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IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


BY THE SAME AUJHOR 


Illustrated by Paul Bransom 

THE HIDDEN PEOPLE 

A Story of a Search for Hidden Treasure 


CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 







“Quizquiz, Inca, Child of the Sun . . . commands that you 
appear before his sacred person” 


[ Page 95 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


BY 

LEO E. MILLER 

t I 

AUTHOR OF 

*‘lN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA,” 

“the hidden people” 


ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BRANSOM 


/ 


NEW YORK 

CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 

1921 



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COPTKIOHT, 1921 , BT 
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 



COPYRIGHT, 1831, BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING CO. 



OCT 1921 


THE 8CRIBNER PRESS 


'0)CU62471.5 



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TO THE MEMORY 


OF 

LITTLE ROBERT 











PREFACE 


The Tiger^s Lair^^ is the story of the return of 
Stanley Livingston and Ted Boyle to the Andes 
Mountains of Peru to complete their search for the 
hidden treasure of the Incas. It is a separate and 
complete story in itself — one may read and under- 
stand it without having read ^^The Hidden People.’’ 


Floral Park, 
Stratford, Conn., 
Sept. 1, 1921. 


Leo E. Miller. 


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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. THE END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER .... 1 

II. SKY HIGH 11 

III. THE RETURN TO THE LAND OF THE INCAS ... 24 

rV. THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 32 

s,. 

V. IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 43 

VI. THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 55 

VII. IN THE tiger’s LAIR 66 

VIII. THE inca’s threat 80 

IX. SONCCO’S SHREWDNESS 92 

X. THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 105 

XI. THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 116 

XII. THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 128 

XIII. Stanley’s plan 140 

XIV* SONCCO’s AID TO THE PLOTTERS 151 

XV. THE TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 165 

XVI. THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 180 

XVII. ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 193 


IX 


X 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAOB 

XVIII. THE MAN IN THE CRATER 205 

XIX. THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN IS CLOSED . . . 221 

XX. THE KING IS CROWNED 233 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


^‘Quizquiz, Inca, Child of the Sun . . . commands that you 

appear before his sacred person’^ Frontispiece 

TACING PAQB 

Very obviously the Inca had carefully planned to impress 

the visitors 82 

It was a bushmaster, the deadliest and the most feared of all 

South American snakes 170 

An instant later a huge, dark form catapulted past the crouch- 
ing men 210 



IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


CHAPTER I 

THE END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER 

Two years had passed since that day when Stanley 
Livingston and Ted Boyle, accompanied by the giant 
negro, Moses, faced the perils of the underground 
river rather than suffer a lingering death on the dis- 
mal shores of the lagoon beyond the wall at Uti. 

Having finished their course at college, Livingston 
and Boyle, or Stanley and Ted, as they were better 
known, had decided upon a novel way of spending a 
few months’ vacation before entering their more seri- 
ous professional careers. They went to look for the 
hidden treasure of the Incas that was known to lie 
somewhere in the vast ranges of the Andes Moun- 
tains of Peru. They well understood the difficulties 
of such an undertaking; there were snow-clad peaks 
to climb and steaming jungles to penetrate, and 
dangerous animals and still more formidable wild 
people to combat. But all these things simply added 
to the attraction of the venture. 


2 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


They had gone in quest of adventure, and their 
desire was gratified beyond their wildest expectations. 
Shipwreck, the burning thirst of a desert land, battles 
with fierce monkey-men, and the dread fevers of the 
lowlands were their lot during the first months of the 
journey. Then — the Hidden Valley where the Inca 
Huayna Capac lived and ruled the remnant of the 
once-great nation in all the magnificence and splendor 
of ancient times. The great king received them, not 
unkindly, made them princes, and surrounded them 
with every luxury. From the beginning, however, 
Quizquiz, son of the Inca and heir to the throne, had 
conspired against them, and in the end he had suc- 
ceeded in securing their conviction on the charge of 
treason. They were condemned to exile beyond the 
great wall that divided the valley from Uti, the abode 
of the evil spirits. It was Timichi, previously ban- 
ished to the dismal place, who showed them the 
gold-filled cavern where the vast treasure reposed 
and who later pointed out to them the underground 
river just as all hope of escape seemed gone. They 
had accepted the last, desperate chance and had 
emerged in the outer world rich in gold and in ex- 
perience. 

And now, after a period of two years, they found 
themselves back in the drooping wilderness, encamped 


END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER 3 


at the outer end of the underground river, preparing 
to remove the vast treasure their former efforts had 
revealed. 

'^We might have left this place only yesterday, so 
far as appearances are concerned,^’ Stanley said as 
they stood on the edge of the open, park-like place 
flanked by the abrupt cliffs on one side and the heavy 
jungle on the other. ‘‘Everything looks just the same 
as it^did then. The deer are grazing just as peace- 
fully and — I distinctly remember seeing that one with 
the lame fore leg. It speaks well for the neighbor- 
hood; the monkey-men have not invaded it yet, or 
the deer would not be so tame.'' 

“Yes, it surely does not seem as if two years have 
passed since we were here. The only thing lacking 
is Moses, but that is not our fault. We tried our best 
to find him. But, I wish we had him just the same, 
because we need him." 

“Poor old Moses. I miss him too. He saved our 
fives, and no one but a giant like him could have done 
it. But for him we should never have gotten out of 
the valley. If we ever succeed in locating him we 
shall have to divide up the gold we are going to get 
now. He shared all the hardships and he is entitled 
to a share of the spoils." 

“You are right, and no matter how much we give 


4 IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 

him we shall always be in debt to him for what he 
did for us.” 

They started across the open plot toward the little 
stream that wended its way through the centre. The 
deer stopped grazing, looked up at them with startled 
eyes, and then bounded into the protecting forest. 
When the men reached the watercourse, they followed 
it to the base of the stone escarpment, the top of which 
was hidden by the belt of yellowish, poisonous vapor 
that served as such an effectual barrier between the 
outer world and the Hidden Valley. Laving the foot 
of the stone wall was the pool, and opening into it 
was the black cavern that in reality was the mouth of 
the underground river. 

^‘One would hardly suspect it of being such a magic 
river to-day,” Ted said, throwing himself on the short 
grass; ‘Hhe water is flowing neither way; it is stand- 
ing still. Wonder what Timichi would say to that, 
were he ahve; but I have no doubt he has been dead 
a good many months.” 

^‘He clung to hfe a number of years even in that 
awful place, but I, too, think he must be dead now. 
He was nearly gone when we left him. Too bad there 
was nothing we could do for the poor fellow.” 

They returned to camp and began to prepare sup- 
per. 


END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER 5 

‘‘Our provisions should last several weeks, not 
counting on the game we can get here,’^ Stanley 
observed as he looked over the supplies. ‘Hn that 
length of time we can bring out all the gold any one 
could possibly desire. We have only to hide it inside 
of sacks of ivory nuts, of which the jungle is full 
around here, cache it, and then one of us can stay on 
guard while the other goes back to Cuzco for peons 
to carry them out. No one will ever suspect.^' 

'Ht^s all so simple. And there is not a chance of 
failure, Ted remarked between mouthfuls. '‘Just 
think, there are millions in gold on the other side of 
that wall, and it is all oms for the mere taking. Let^s 
do the job as quickly as possible; I want to get back 
home to make use of my wealth.^’ 

"DonT be too sure,'^ Stanley cautioned. "You 
know we havenT got it yet.’’ 

"But it is there. We know that, because we saw 
it and helped ourselves to all we could carry. And 
we know how to get in and out of the place too. So 
this one time I am dead sure that as much gold as we 
want will be ours in a few weeks, and I for one am 
going to treat myself generously.” 

Remembering Moses’ experience with the deadly 
bushmaster, they made no attempt to sleep on the 
grounds But, going into the forest, cut a number of 


6 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


stout poles and, tying the tops together to form tri- 
pods, slung their hammocks between them for the 
night. 

Their first thought on the following morning was 
to see if there was any perceptible current in the river; 
but to their disappointment they found that the water 
was stationary, as before. 

Looks as if we might have to paddle the rafts 
through. We could do that easily enough if neces- 
sary, but it would help a good deal if the water were 
flowing in the right direction. But why worry? It 
will take at least two days to make the rafts, and by 
that time the current will doubtless set in again. 

They now began to work in earnest. Near the 
lower end of the open space where the river entered 
the forest, clumps of tall bamboo dotted both banks. 
Some of the great, jointed stems were fully eight inches 
in diameter and fifty feet high. Chopping them down 
and cutting them into ten-foot lengths was hard work, 
for they had only their machetes, or brush-knives, with 
which to work. Also, as each joint was full of water 
it had to be tapped and drained, after which the open- 
ings had to be plugged up again with gum; this made 
the stalks light and buoyant. They carried them to 
the water, one at a time, and lashed them together to 
form rafts. This required more time than they had 


END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER 7 


anticipated; in fact, four days passed before the two 
were completed. 

'^How much gold do you intend to take from the 
cave?^’ Ted asked one day when their task was nearly 
finished. 

As much as I can, of course. These rafts will carry 
several hundred pounds each in addition to our own 
weight, and we can make a dozen trips, or even more.^' 

‘‘A ton for each is not too much. It is remarkable 
how much the yellow metal is worth. When we were 
here before, you guessed that each of our packs con- 
tained about ten thousand dollars^ worth, and you 
were nearly right. We got almost eleven thousand 
apiece, and the emerald necklaces were appraised at 
double that. I should not wonder but that there are 
many precious stones in the cave, too, hidden among 
the gold.^^ 

''All the better for us. They are not so bulky or 
heavy. Think of all the good we can do when we get 
back home.'’ 

"Yes! I intend to be very liberal with a certain 
college I think a lot of." 

"Hospitals is my hobby. You shall see." 

When the rafts were all ready they pushed them 
along the bank, and up to the mouth of the under- 
ground river, 


8 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


is strange that the water does not move/^ Ted 
said, looking puzzled. ^Ht looks black and stagnant 
— as if it has been standing still a long time.^^ 

‘^Do not let that trouble you. If it does not flow 
by to-morrow morning we shall paddle through the 
tunnel. We have been through it before and know 
the way. Besides, we are well supplied with flash- 
lights now. There is nothing to it, so why worry 
They hewed short, broad-bladed paddles out of a 
cottonwood branch and carefully covered all the 
things they did not intend to take with them on the 
following day with broad palm-leaves, to protect them 
if it rained. 

When dawn came, it found them on their rafts, 
paddhng into the mouth of the cave. Once inside, 
Stanley switched on one of the lights that had been 
tied to the front of his raft, and the bright glare re- 
vealed a passage from ten to twenty feet wide with 
an uneven ceiling of jagged rock fifteen feet above 
their heads. Swarms of bats, frightened by the un- 
usual visitors, left their hiding-places overhead, and 
with a flutter of wings dashed out of reach of the circle 
of light and disappeared. 

^'We have been going over half an hour now,*’ Ted 
said, looking at his watch. *'Of course we have not 
made very good time, but we should be nearing the 
end. Can you see daylight ahead?” 


END OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER 9 


‘‘No! The opening is not in sight. But, what is 
this? Slow up so you wonT bump into me! The 
water seems to stop here.’^ 

‘^Stop? There must be a bend in the river.’' 
can see none.” 

‘'Still there must be some open channel. Didn’t we 
come through here before ? Give me the light ; perhaps 
the turn is back here.” 

They focussed the bright rays in all directions, but 
to no avail. 

"Ted!” Stanley cried in sudden consternation. 
"This was the opening, right here, but it is not here 
now. It has been blocked up.” 

"Impossible,” Ted returned in dismay. "Do you 
mean that we cannot get back into the valley?” 

"Come ahead and see for yourself.” 

Ted pushed his way to the front of Stanley’s raft. 
The latter’s words were all too true, for the opening 
into the valley was filled with earth and stones of large 
size. 

"They learned of our escape from Timichi,” Ted 
said bitterly, "and knew we would come back. Well, 
I am not ready to admit that all my visions and hopes 
are dead; but just now there is nothing but darkness 
ahead.” 

"How about dynamite?” Stanley asked suddenly. 


10 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


could blast away the rocks in the entrance and 
get in after all.” 

'^But what could we do against the Inca’s hordes 
once we were inside?” 

‘^Come to think of it, I do not believe they had 
anything to do with this. They would not dare ven- 
ture beyond the wall. There must have been a land- 
slide on the slope above. In a region like this earth- 
quakes occur frequently on account of the many 
volcanoes, and that would explain all this.” 

They paddled back through the tunnel silently and 
sadly. All their dreams of wealth had suddenly van- 
ished. It had never occurred to them that something 
might prevent them from securing the enormous trea- 
sure they had discovered. They knew its exact loca- 
tion; its value was so great that no man could esti- 
mate it, and to secure it required no further effort than 
to take it and carry it away. And then — their great 
disappointment. 

^^That is just what we will do,” Stanley said that 
night as they were eating their supper. ^^We have 
not lost a thing, only there will be a slight delay in 
carrying out our original plans. To-morrow we shall 
start back to Cuzco for the dynamite. The rest will 
be easy.” 

Stanley had never been more mistaken in his life. 


CHAPTER II 


SKY HIGH 

When the two reached Cuzco, after the long, diffi- 
cult climb up the mountain sides, they found news of 
a startling character awaiting them. Their own coun- 
try had become involved in the World War. And 
with this intelhgence came to them the reafization of 
their duty. 

The two lost no time in returning to the coast, and 
took the next steamer bound northward. Arrived in 
their homes, Ted applied for and was accepted in one 
of the officers’ training-camps, while Stanley enhsted 
in the aviation branch of the service. 

Before long Ted began to regret his decision to join 
the infantry. It happened late one October after- 
noon when the company was returning, under full 
packs, from a lengthy hike into the country. The 
dust rose in clouds that threatened to suffocate the 
men and the sun stiU blazed unrelentingly on the 
weary, tramping forms. But even as they marched 

along the men sang with a good deal of spirit, although 
11 


12 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


any one who had heard them outward bound that 
morning could have easily recognized the difference 
in the vigor of their song. 

From afar came a droning, buzzing sound, hard to 
locate but drawing rapidly nearer. A moment later 
some one shouted “airplane,^’ and a hundred and 
fifty pairs of eyes were eagerly scanning the sky; soon 
they succeeded in making out a small, dark speck 
high in the heavens, and as they gazed it grew larger 
and larger, until finally the trim outlines of the grace- 
ful craft could be distinguished clearly. Something 
seemed to go wrong with the machine when it was 
directly overhead. The steady purr of the motor 
stopped and the great speed at which the ship had 
been travelling began to slacken. Every one held his 
breath in anticipation of the tragedy that was about 
to take place. After a second^s pause, during which 
the airplane seemed to stand still, it plunged toward 
the earth in a bewildering succession of turns, nose 
down, tail pointed into the sky. Its antics gave one 
the impression that it might be shding down some 
gigantic aerial corkscrew, and how long the craft con- 
tinued in its spinning fall to destruction no one knew, 
but to the spectators below it seemed hke minutes. 
Just as it appeared as if the next few turns must bring 
the fatal crash the machine stopped spinning, started 


SKY HIGH 


13 


into a graceful, straight dive, and then with a startled 
roar of the exhausts swooped upward and away. 

“I'd give anything in the world to be able to fly 
like that," Ted confided to the cadet by his side. 

“You are covering a lot of territory," he replied. 
“The ground is good enough for me." 

“It will have to be for me, too, I guess, but think 
of those fellows playing among the clouds while we 
swallow dust on the road or wallow in knee-deep mud 
in the trenches. Think of the glory of fighting miles 
above the earth !" 

“What's the matter? Not feeling sorry for your- 
self, are you?" 

Ted ignored this remark. His thoughts were high 
above in the ethereal blue, where the airplane had 
been manoeuvring with such graceful ease but a few 
minutes before. 

“I want to fly and do my fighting up there," he said 
to himself more than to any one else in particular. 

“And be shot down and hit the ground so hard it 
would take the whole police squad a week to dig you 
out," Ted's neighbor, whose name was Carter, inter- 
rupted. “Not for me! I'll take mine down here, 
where I know there is something safe and solid under 
my two feet." 

The company reached the barracks with just fifteen 


14 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


minutes in which to brush up for retreat. There was 
no time for discussion or conversation, but that night, 
just before taps, it was reported that a commission 
had arrived whose object it was to select men for the 
air service; several would be accepted from each com- 
pany. That accounted for the sudden appearance 
of the air-ship that afternoon; it was part of the 
advertising plan to secure the necessary number of 
men. 

Ted called on his captain immediately, and was 
told to report to the major in charge of the commis- 
sion on the following morning. 

There was no sleep for him that night. The hours 
dragged as he tossed restlessly on his hard bunk and 
hstened to the heavy breathing of the other men, and 
when morning came he was so excited he was sure he 
should be rejected on that very account. But the 
major was inclined to make allowances, and informed 
Ted that he might expect to be transferred at no far- 
distant date. 

The order releasing him from duty with the com- 
pany and sending him southward to the ground school 
in Texas came two weeks later. And two days after 
that Ted was speeding toward his new station. 

Then followed three months of the hardest kind of 
work; there were long lectures and hours of study 


SKY HIGH 


15 


upon the organization of foreign armies, interspersed 
with periods of calisthenics and infantry drill; also 
instructions on topics connected with flying, such as 
motors, rigging, gunnery, and wireless. Every one 
worked at top speed to assimilate as much as pos- 
sible of the knowledge with which he was being 
crammed; that occupied all the hours of dayhght and 
part of the night, too, so there was httle time to form 
close and lasting friendships. Everybody was so busy 
with his own problems that it was impossible to pay 
much attention to the other fellow. 

But the three months were up at last, and Ted, 
standing near the head of his section, was promptly 
sent to flying school. Those who were not so fortu- 
nate in their marks were sent to concentration camps 
to wait weeks, even months, for their turn. 

^'Attention to orders, called the section leader the 
morning after Ted and a number of others had reported 
for their new class of instruction. ^‘Boyle, Currier, 
Davis, and Edwards report to Lieutenant Livingston, 
Ship Number 188. Green, Hammond, Jones, and 
Murphy report to Lieutenant Talbot, Ship Number 
210,^^ and so on down the line, ending with a final 
^Tall out.” 

Ted could not believe his ears. Was it possible 
that the Lieutenant Livingston who was to be his 


16 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


instructor was Stanley? They had not communicated 
with one another since entering the service. 

Ted hurried to Ship Number 188, which had been 
pointed out to him by one of the mechanics. 

'^Lieutenant Livingston, sir?’' he inquired of the 
officer evidently in charge of the ship. 

"Yes, what can I do for you? Why — if it isn’t Ted. 
What are you doing here? I am certainly glad to see 
you.” 

Ted explained how he had been transferred from 
the infantry and had just completed his course at 
ground school; also that he had been assigned to 
Stanley for flying instruction. 

"This is luck. Let’s get at it right away; we can 
talk more to-night. Hop into the rear seat and we’ll 
start right off.” 

"What do I have to do?” Ted asked excitedly. 

"This is just going to be a joy ride around the 
field. Don’t do or touch anything; sit as comfortably 
as you can and look around; watch the ground and the 
air and the other ships.” 

So saying he helped Ted into his place and showed 
him how to adjust the buckle of his safety-belt across 
his lap. "You will hardly ever need the belt,” he 
said, "but it is just as well to get into the habit of 
fastening it.” 


SKY HIGH 


17 


Then he climbed into the forward cockpit and 
opened and closed the throttle a number of times, 
while the motor roared and slowed down alternately. 
At a signal to the crew chief, the men removed the 
blocks from under the wheels, and taking hold of the 
lower wings swung the ship around until it faced the 
flying-field, which was into the wind. 

An instant later, with an increasing roar, the ma- 
chine was tearing across the ground at a terrific speed. 
Ted looked down over the edges of the cockpit, and 
saw the grass rushing backward in a blurred, green 
streak. A frightful wind struck his face, cutting off 
his breath and making his eyes water. He ducked 
his head behind the little celluloid wind-shield to ad- 
just his goggles more snugly, and when he looked 
again they had left the groimd. He closed his eyes 
for a moment; there was no sensation of motion what- 
ever; they seemed to be standing stock-still, like a kite 
at the end of a string, facing a cyclone of wind, but 
the thunder of the engine was deafening. 

After climbing a thousand feet, they made a num- 
ber of circuits of the field. Then Stanley throttled 
the motor and dipping the ship down at a steep 
angle, began the glide back to the landing-place. The 
propeller moved so slowly that the blades could easily 
be distinguished, and the wind shrieked through the 


18 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


wires with a shrill wail. They levelled off at a few 
feet above the ground, and after skimming along a 
short distance, touched so gently that there was 
scarcely any shock; after that they slowed down and 
rolled up to the dead-line from which they had started. 

The course of instruction continued daily, and 
under Stanley's capable guidance Ted learned rap- 
idly. When he had had six hours in the air he could 
fly the ship in a manner satisfactory to his teacher; 
so Stanley took it upon himself to include a few of 
the more commonly used stunts in the course. For 
this purpose, however, they always went some dis- 
tance from the field, where they were safe from the 
observation from below of the officers in charge. 

am going to show you a new one to-day,” Stanley 
said one afternoon, as they were taking their places 
for the flight. ‘^Be doubly sure the belt is fastened; 
you will need it for once.” 

can stand anything you can,” Ted replied. '^Go 
as far as you like.” 

Soon they were leaving the field behind, mounting 
as they soared into the distance. The aneroid needle 
pointed to two thousand, then three, four, five, and 
finally six thousand feet. Ted had never been so 
high before in the plane, and the earth below seemed 
new and strange. The patches of woods looked hke 


SKY HIGH 


19 


clusters of dark, green dots, and the fields reminded 
him of the squares of a checker-board. Banks of 
white, fluffy clouds rolled past, their upper edges 
tinted with glowing silver by the brilliant sunlight. 

Stanley shut down the engine. “Is everything all 
right?'' he called back. 

“Yes!" 

“I am going into a whip-stall. Be sure your belt is 
tight." 

He opened wide the throttle and nosed the plane 
down so that they attained a terrific speed; then he 
suddenly pulled it almost straight upward and shut off 
the engine. For a moment the ship seemed to stand 
still in the air in an upright position; then it whipped 
downward with tremendous force, sliding on the tail. 
Ted felt himself raised off his seat, but, thank heaven, 
the belt held, or he would have remained in mid-air 
while the plane hurtled away from beneath him. 
After falling some little distance Stanley again turned 
on the power and they swung out of the dive and lev- 
elled off gracefully. 

But at that instant a burst of smoke was swept 
back by the blast of the propeller. The engine slack- 
ened its speed and a series of sharp, pistol-like reports 
came from the exhausts. 

Ted was seized with consternation, for a thin 


20 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


streamer of flame shot back from under the hood ; the 
plane was afire. 

Stanley saw the danger at the same moment and 
dove in an attempt to put out the fire, but this ma- 
noeuvre, frequently successful in such an emergency, 
proved to be the worst possible thing in this case. 
With a roar the flame struck him full in the face; he 
tried to pull the ship out of the dive, but the fiery 
blast stifled him; the ground below, the sky above, and 
even the wings on either side of him seemed wrapped 
in a haze, and in an instant he was enveloped in com- 
plete darkness. 

Ted saw the wilting figure in front of him droop out 
of sight; at the same time the plane began to quiver 
and lurch from side to side. Without a guiding hand 
to direct it the heretofore graceful craft became con- 
verted into a mass of steel and wood and cloth hurthng 
through space to certain destruction. He reahzed the 
frightfulness of the situation in a flash; Stanley had 
either fainted or was dead. 

must get him down; I must save him,” he gasped, 
frantically grasping the controls in his own cockpit. 
He thought little of his own danger; it was his com- 
panion who filled his mind. He must get him to the 
ground and save him if it was not already too late. 

The blaze was sweeping back directly over the top 


SKY HIGH 


21 


of the twenty-gallon container resting between the 
engine and the front cockpit. must fan the flames 
to one side” Ted thought. ^‘If the gas catches, it 
will be the end.’' 

Responding to a savage turn of the wheel, the ship 
turned on edge and the streamer of fire darted out to 
one side. If only he could keep it there! Perhaps 
the rudder would help; he gave it a sharp kick, then 
felt that he had made a mistake, for he had pushed it 
in the direction opposite to the wheel. But the ship, 
tilted at a steep angle, started into a side-slip toward 
the ground, and that was exactly what he wanted. 
He must keep on slipping from side to side, like a 
falling leaf. 

The wind shrieked through the rigging with a terri- 
fying scream and threatened to tear away the side of 
Ted’s face. He straightened out the plane, reversed 
his controls, and then began falling in the opposite 
direction. Back and forth they darted; the ground 
was rushing up to meet them at a furious speed. It 
was fascinating, this sight of the ground rushing up- 
ward, and as he looked at it he suddenly reahzed that 
they were almost directly above an open field — the 
landing-field, it must have been, for there were the 
white hangars in which the ships were kept; and the 
machines that had been out in the open were scurrying 


22 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


in all directions. Vaguely he wondered how long it 
would be before they should crash in their midst. 

After what seemed like ages, but which was in reahty 
a matter of seconds, the ground loomed up close to 
them. The moment for the supreme test had come. 
Throwing the controls into neutral he brought the 
ship into an even glide. The hot blast struck his face 
and the fumes of burning oil made him cough and 
choke. But not for an instant did he relax to lower 
his head for a breath of air; he must see the thing 
through if it was the last thing he ever did. 

Her speed gone, the ship settled rapidly; it was but 
ten feet from the ground. Ted pulled back the wheel 
cautiously to keep her nose up, as he had been told so 
often by Stanley, and the plane responded ever so 
feebly. The ship struck with a jolt, bounded, settled 
again, rolled forward a short distance, and came to a 
stop. 

Ted snatched at the buckle of his belt, tore off his 
goggles, and jumped to the ground. His head was 
reeling and his throat was parched. The flames now 
extended in back of the hood and were reaching for 
the fuel-tank. It was only a question of seconds before 
the explosion that would deluge them with a shower of 
burning gasolene. 

There was not time to try to rescue Stanley by pull- 


SKY HIGH 


23 


ing him over the rim of the cockpit, and, besides, Ted 
had not the strength left for such an undertaking. 
So he clambered up on one wing and kicked in the 
linen side of the fuselage, after which he dragged the 
unconscious form of his companion through the hole. 
Then he tottered away with the limp body in his 
arms, how far he never knew. 

A chorus of excited voices reached his ears in a con- 
fused murmur and helping hands relieved him of his 
burden. His head burned and a thousand needles 
seemed to stab through his chest. He clutched the 
air wildly and, gasping for breath, plunged headlong 
into darkness. 


CHAPTER III 


THE RETURN TO THE LAND OF THE INCAS 

The exploits of Stanley and Ted in the great World 
War form no part of this story. It is enough to say 
that they saw extensive service on the Western Front 
and that they acquitted themselves in an entirely cred- 
itable manner. 

The armistice was signed at last and the two, in 
common with thousands of others, were returned to 
their own country. They had attained the rank of 
first lieutenant. Now, their services being no longer 
urgently required, they tendered their resignations and 
received honorable discharges. 

'^I am beginning to feel as if I have had enough of 
a rest,’’ Ted said one night a few weeks afterward 
when Stanley dropped in at his home for one of his 
visits. They saw one another almost daily. '^What 
do you say to making another attempt to get the 
treasure ? ” 

'^You know what I think about it,” Stanley replied. 

^^If the folks had not been urging me to remain with 
24 


THE LAND OF THE INCAS 


25 


them a while longer, I should have suggested starting 
before now. They cannot forget what we went 
through on our first visit to the Hidden Valley; but 
they know we are determined to return to it. They 
are not discouraging me at all; only trying to put it 
off as long as possible.” 

'^We are losing a lot of time. The sooner we go 
back to Peru and have it over with the better. Think 
of the tons of gold lying in the cave waiting for us to 
carry them away.” 

know. How do your people feel about it? I 
suppose they are not eager to have you go?” 

‘‘The situation is the same with me as with you. 
But I think we should start without finther delay. 
There are so many things to be done when we get back, 
and time flies.” Then, after a moment^s thought: “I 
have been looking up the sailing dates. There is a 
good steamer for Panama next Tuesday — that is, a 
week from to-day. It will get us to the isthmus just 
in time to connect with the Panela of the Peruvian 
Line for MoUendo. Can you be ready then, or is 
that too soon?” 

“I could be ready to-morrow. Waiting a whole 
week, now that we have actually decided to go, will 
seem like a year!” 

“And,” said Ted as Stanley was leaving, “we had 


26 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


better not take anything with us from here. We can 
get all the supplies and outfit we need in Cuzco. 

Arrived in Colon, they found the Panela scheduled 
to sail that same afternoon. There was barely sufii- 
cient time to transfer their baggage, comply with the 
customs formalities, and secure passage on the depart- 
ing steamer. 

Before long they had entered the muddy water of 
the canal, and soon after that the ship entered the 
locks and in an almost incredibly short time was 
raised to the level of Gatun Lake, with its vast ex- 
panse of murky water and its fringe of tree skeletons 
that stood like black monuments to mark the grave- 
yard of the inundated forest. Darkness prevented 
the completion of the trip through the canal, so the 
ship was tied up for the night. 

There was no moonlight, but the thousands of scin- 
tillating stars shed a soft radiance upon the torpid 
earth. The water was black and smooth as glass, 
save for the myriad points of reflected starhght. But 
in spite of the unruffled appearance of the surface the 
black depths were charged with life. One had only 
to drop some object overboard in order to excite to 
action the millions of jelly-fish that lurked below. 
When the water was agitated by the missile, no mat- 


THE LAND OF THE INCAS 


27 


ter how lightly, it blazed with patches and circles of 
greenish phosphorescence, so that the surface seemed 
aflame with a weird, unearthly fire. And occasionally 
there was a streak of the same uncanny light as one 
of the larger inhabitants of the deep cut the surface in 
a burst of speed in pmsuit of some of the lesser fry. 

With the coming of daylight the Panela was lowered 
through the locks at the far end of the canal and 
headed for the open ocean. 

^^No wonder this is called the Pacific,^^ said Ted as 
they stood on deck looking over the broad expanse of 
dark-blue water. The surface was so smooth that it 
might have been a sheet of glass; into this the prow 
of the ship cut a furrow crested with hissing white 
foam. Overhead the man-o^-war birds described great 
circles on motionless wings; they were marvels of 
grace and endurance, spanning the limitless blue day 
after day without stopping to rest. In the distance 
a number of whales rolled lazily in the briny water 
and blew thin jets of spray high into the air. 

‘Hf I were not so eager to finish our job down there 
I should say that this is the only life. I could keep 
sailing on forever. I certainly intend to do my share 
of travelling if this venture proves successful,^^ Stanley 
said. 

iijjfyy Ted queried in surprise. ‘'You mean when 


28 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


the job is finished. There is no question in my mind 
but that we shall get the gold this time. We know 
exactly how to overcome the one little barrier that 
hes between us and the hidden millions.” 

‘^You are right. When are we due to reach Mol- 
lendo?” 

**Six days from now. Then three more days in 
which to get to Cuzco. Two or three days in which 
to gather our outfit together, and then for the trail. 
In a month from now, at the most, we shall be ferrying 
out the gold that has been concealed for so many cen- 
turies. The imderground river will hum as we dash 
back and forth through it.” 

After that we shall be up against the hardest work 
of all; that is to get the gold out of the country and 
back home safely. But let^s not cross any bridges 
before we get to them. The future must take care of 
itself,” said Stanley. 

While we are so near to it, I wish we could take a 
peep into the Hidden Valley. Perhaps Huayna Capac, 
the Inca, is dead, and Quizquiz is king now. I am 
sorry for everybody in the valley if he is their ruler. 
The old king at least tried to be kind and generous, 
the best be knew how, but Quizquiz will be a tyrant 
in every sense of the word. He is conceited, arrogant, 
and cruel. I should hate to fall into his hands.” 


THE LAND OF THE INCAS 


29 


'^And I, too/’ said Stanley. '^But there is no 
chance. He would not dare enter Uti, where the 
gold is hidden, and we shall certainly not trespass in 
his kingdom beyond the great wall. So we can sim- 
ply guess at what is taking place in the Hidden Valley, 
and I am content to let it go at that.” 

Stanley spoke with conviction, but he had no way 
of knowing what the future had in store for hina. 
Just as the past years had brought the momentous 
events due to the World War, so there had been 
events of importance in the Hidden Valley, also. If 
Ted and Stanley could in some manner have obtained 
an inkling of what had happened behind those silent 
and unscalable moimtains that surrounded the retreat 
of the last of the Incas, they doubtless should have re- 
frained from making another attempt to secure the 
fabulous wealth that this same barrier also protected. 
Firmly resolved though they were not to enter the 
Hidden Valley proper again, it was not impossible that 
circumstances beyond their control might take them 
into the very region they were so eager to shun. And 
then — the terrible reckoning, with the pitiless, trium- 
phant, and all-powerful Quizquiz as their captor and 
judge. 

They landed in Mollendo just in time to take the 
early afternoon train into the mountains, and night 


30 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


found them in the upland city of Arequipa. It re- 
quired the greater part of another day to cover the 
distance to Puno, and on the morning after that the 
journey to Cuzco began. 

As the train crept wearily over the high plateau 
and entered the outskirts of the city, Ted, who was 
gazing interestedly through the httle window of their 
compartment, gave a cry of surprise. 

‘^Things have certainly been happening here since 
we last saw this place,” he said. “Look!” 

Stanley, too, peered through the window. A num- 
ber of long, wide, wooden buildings had been erected 
along one side of a level field. There were also nar- 
rower and higher structures and a small cluster of 
tents. Men in uniform were drilling near the group 
of buildings; and a detachment of other soldiers was 
signalling with large white panels that were spread 
out on the ground. 

“Ted,” he said suddenly, “that aviation-field has 
been put there for a purpose. It may mean that the 
war fever has spread even to these remote countries; 
or it may be only the beginning of a preparedness 
campaign. I can’t say why, but I feel in my bones 
that we are going to get mixed up in whatever it is 
before very long.” 

“I hope not. We can’t afford to let anything side- 


THE LAND OF THE INCAS 


31 


track us from getting that gold. If we keep putting 
it off something may happen to prevent our getting 
it altogether. 

“But that is just what I am thinking/^ Stanley pro- 
tested. Everything we do must be a step toward 
the big goal.^’ 

‘‘I donT see the connection.” 

‘'Well, then, let me tell you. It takes many days 
of walking over the most difficult trail to reach the 
underground river. And heaven only knows how hard 
it will be to carry the gold back up the mountain- 
side. Now, in an airplane the distance cannot be 
very great, and instead of work it would be fun. Now 
do you see what I mean?” 

"Stanley!” Ted^s face beamed. "Do you think 
we could arrange it?” 

"There is nothing impossible if you do not want it 
to be. We are going to get into the treasure-ground 
by the air-route this time, even if we have to steal one 
of those planes to do it.” 

Just then the train rolled into the station and Ted 
and Stanley gathered up their baggage and followed 
the crowd along the platform and out into the street. 


CHAPTER IV 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 

‘'Sir, the colonel presents his compliments and 
commands you to report to him at once/' 

Ted and Stanley had just finished breakfast and 
were crossing the open little courtyard between the 
dining-room of the inn and their own quarters when 
the orderly stepped briskly in their path, saluted, and 
delivered his message. 

“What?" Ted asked, stopping in his tracks. 

“Colonel who?" from Stanley, “and what does he 
want with us?" 

“Colonel Jos6 Antonio de Estrella, commanding 
officer of the First Aero Squadron." 

“Why this great honor? We do not know the 
colonel and cannot imagine why he wishes to see us. 
But of course if he insists, we shall be happy to pay 
him a visit. Only he should invite, not command, us; 
we have put up with enough ‘commanding and order- 
ing' in our own army to last us a long, long time." 

“Are not the seftores the flyers who have been ex- 
pected the past month? The colonel has been very 
impatient of the delay." 


32 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 33 


‘‘No, we know nothing of the gentlemen you men- 
tion, but perhaps we can be of service, anyway. Take 
us to the colonel. I guess we can see him right 
away.’’ 

The youth saluted and started away at a fast walk, 
the two Americans following. 

“I told you we were going to get mixed up in that 
aviation proposition,” Stanley -said. “I knew it the 
minute I saw that field.” 

“Who knows what it may lead to? but I cannot see 
much to it just yet. We are being mistaken for some 
one else, and that is about all that is clear so far. So 
soon as the colonel sees us he will recognize his 
mistake, apologize profusely, and tell us to go our 
way.” 

“Now that is exactly what we must avoid. We 
have an opening to do the very thing that will help us 
and we must manage to take advantage of it. In- 
stead of our going to them to beg for a job, they have 
sent for us in error, it is true, but what is to prevent 
us from profiting by it?” 

“You are right, and I only hope we can see the 
thing through. How much hard work it would save 
us if we could fly to the Hidden Valley, to say nothing 
of the time we should save !” 

They reached the camp in a little over half an hour 


34 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


and were immediately taken to headquarters, where 
the adjutant, a second heu tenant in a brilliant uni- 
form, lost no time in ushering them into the coloneFs 
office. 

The latter officer was of rather short build but of 
distinguished appearance. His hair and long mus- 
taches were snowy white; his eyes were black. A 
number of medals and mihtary decorations were 
pinned to his coat in a neat row, but one of the first 
things the Americans observed was that the wings of 
a flying officer were lacking. 

^Ht is I who have made a big mistake,” he said as 
the two entered. ^^For the last four weeks I have 
been expecting two officers from Eiu'ope, but they do 
not come. Last night, when I heard that two stran- 
gers had arrived in the city, I concluded it must be 
they. I now see and acknowledge my mistake and I 
apologize for troubling the gentlemen.” 

‘‘The colonel owes us no apology,” said Stanley in 
a respectful manner. “Quite the contrary. It is a 
great pleasure for us to visit him. If we can be of 
service it wiU please us to help in any way we can. 
Both my companion and I have had considerable ex- 
perience with airplanes.” 

“You mean to say you are aviators?” the colonel 
asked, rising from his chair. “When and where did 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 35 


you leam to fly and what has been your experience? 
Sit down and tell me all about iV* 

Ted and Stanley did as they were asked, and for 
an hour they related to the officer their various experi- 
ences so far as aeronautics were concerned. He lis- 
tened intently to all they had to say and asked many 
questions. 

''It is indeed fortunate for me that you came,” he 
said when they had finished, "for I need your help 
and can offer you good positions. The manoeuvres 
take place in two months and we must have ships in 
the air by that time. Now, when can you begin 
work? Remember, there is need of great haste.” 

"Will you tell us exactly what is expected of us?” 
Ted asked. "And then we shall want to talk the mat- 
ter over between ourselves. And what is the remu- 
neration?” 

"Your work will be to assemble the machines and 
to test them thoroughly before turning them over to 
the instructors. That will not be an easy undertak- 
ing and, as you know, it is not without danger, for I 
shall insist that the test flights be very conclusive; 
they will include trips across country of several hours’ 
duration. I want the planes to be as safe as possible 
before we begin taking up students. You will be sub- 
ject to my orders only as civilian employees. And 


36 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


the pay is five hundred soles a month, which is about 
two hundred and fifty dollars in the money of your 
country/^ 

They thanked the colonel for his offer and returned 
to the inn. 

'^What do you think of that for luck?” Ted fairly 
shouted. “Things are coming our way so fast it is 
hard to keep track of them.” 

“We could not wish for a better arrangement,” 
Stanley agreed. ‘‘It is almost too good to be true. 
Every time we make one of those long test flights the 
colonel insists upon, we can drop into Uti and bring 
out a load of gold, as much as the ship will carry, and 
that is considerable. When we have enough we can 
resign and go home. We have not been asked to 
enlist for any given period of time, so we can quit 
when we want »to, provided, of course, we give them 
reasonable notice, so they can get some one else to 
take our places.” 

That afternoon they sent word to the colonel that 
they should be ready to start work on the following 
morning, and shortly after daybreak a cart arrived 
to take their effects to camp, as they were henceforth 
to occupy quarters on the military reservation. 

The two reported to the officer soon after, and were 
at once sent to the hangars, where a number of crates 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 37 


and boxes were stored. These containers held wings, 
bodies, and motors, just as they had been packed for 
shipment by the manufacturers in the United States. 
A detachment of some twenty odd mechanics were 
placed at their disposal. These men had been well 
trained in the theory of aeronautics, and while they 
lacked practical experience, showed unbounded enthu- 
siasm for the work, combined with intelligence and 
adaptability. Before long the tasks in hand began in 
earnest. 

Ted and Stanley went about the matter in a sys- 
tematic, businesslike way. They called the men to- 
gether and then divided them into sections, or crews, 
and explained in detail what the duties of each would 
be. A leader or chief was appointed for each crew. 
The Americans were to give orders to the chiefs, and 
the latter would be held responsible that these orders 
were carried out promptly by the men in their 
charge. 

First they examined the bills of lading and invoices. 
Then they selected certain of the boxes, checked them 
off the lists, and had them removed to the largest 
hangar, which stood not far away. This required all 
of the first day. 

The second day they opened the packages and re- 
moved the various parts, subjecting them to inspec- 


38 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


tion, checking them against the lists, and noting 
minor breaks that had to be repaired. They also 
visited the supply- tent, looked over the tools and 
materials available, and made out requisitions for 
such things as would be needed but which were 
lacking. 

^Ht^s beginning to look like business now,^' Stanley 
commented that night. ^^The first thing is always to 
work out a system; after that everything is easy.^^ 

'^Two days is a short time, but it is surprising how 
many things one can do. Of course we had a good 
foundation to build on, for the colonel had made a 
good beginning. Too bad there is not a flying officer 
in charge of the field; he could understand the whole 
proposition more clearly and make allowances for the 
difficulties we are up against,” Ted returned. 

So far the colonel has been a prince. He has given 
us a free hand, and so long as he continues in that 
spirit we shall get along all right. If he were a flyer 
he would want to boss everything and show us how 
to do things, probably in a way different from the 
one we are accustomed to.” 

Right. I never thought of that.” 

It was exactly four weeks later that the first of the 
planes had been assembled ready to roll out of the 
hangar for the final adjustments and tuning up. The 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 39 


ships were of the two-seater type, similar to the 
JN4H’s so commonly used on American flying-fields, 
and of sturdy, dependable construction. They had 
two-hundred-horse-power eight-cylinder engines, and 
were rated as capable of making an air-speed of ninety 
miles an hour. There were radio sets and machine 
guns, the latter mounted one above the engine and the 
other on a turret in the rear cockpit. 

Ted and Stanley surveyed their work with pride. 
The motor roared with an even, steady purr, or snorted 
and banged as the mechanician opened and closed the 
throttle, while the graceful machine tugged impatiently 
in its efforts to free itself from the grasp of the men 
clinging to the wings, and to leap the blocks that had 
been placed under the wheels. 

^^When shall we take the first spin?’’ Ted asked as 
he inspected the turnbuckles and hit the wire braces 
with his hand to gauge their tautness. 

^'To-morrow, if nothing goes wrong. Think of 
what a wonderful experience it will be to soar over the 
peaks of the Andes; and the first chance we get we 
will hop off to the Valley. All our dreaming and plan- 
ning is about to bear fruit.” 

Just then the colonel accompanied by two officers in 
strange uniforms approached. 

The colonel introduced the new arrivals to the 


40 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


Americans. “At last they are here,” he added. 
“They will have entire charge of the cadets. You 
gentlemen will work together in perfect harmony, I 
hope, in the best interests of the service.” 

Ted and Stanley showed genuine pleasure at mak- 
ing the acquaintance of the two heutenants, but the 
latter seemed cool and reserved, and after a casual 
examination of the throbbing ship followed the colonel 
into one of the hangars. 

A moment later Ted went to the rear of the struc- 
ture to get a wrench from the tool-box, and while paw- 
ing through the miscellaneous collection the chest con- 
tained, the sound of voices from within reached his 
ears. 

“I have investigated them thoroughly,” the colonel 
was saying, “and I have learned that they have been 
in Cuzco at least twice before this. Each time they 
disappeared on some secret mission into the moun- 
tains, and it is said that they are searching for a lost 
mine or hidden treasure. But that is nothing against 
them; we should do the same if we had a reason to 
hope for success in such a venture. I have also exam- 
ined their pilot’s books, for which they cabled volim- 
tarily, and they showed an unusually large number of 
hours in the air and a record above reproach. Their 
work here has been done well. And, besides, they 


THE RIVALRY OF THE AIRMEN 41 


came to my assistance when I needed them. I sent 
for them; they did not beg me for the places.^’ 

‘Hf the colonel will pardon my saying so, the heu- 
tenant and I can now assume full charge of the work. 
We do not need the Americans. We ourselves should 
supervise the rigging of the ships we are to fly.” 

^Ht is a part of their agreement that they must test 
the machines first, so they, not you, will take all the 
risks. There are enough duties to keep all of you 
occupied. Never forget that I am commanding offi- 
cer and I shall not tolerate interference with my 
plans.” 

With these words the colonel strode angrily away. 
For a minute neither of the two foreigners spoke. 

Those Americans are in everything,” one said 
finally. ‘^What chance do we stand while they are 
here? They do not know the meaning of the word 
fear; I have often watched them on the battle-front 
and I know. If these two give such exhibitions here 
as their countrymen did over there, they and not we 
will attract all the attention. We must manage to 
keep them out of the air.” 

‘^That is easy,” the other replied. “If we cannot 
keep them from going up, we can see to it that they 
come back down in an unexpected way. A loose pin, 
a defective strut, or any one of a dozen other things. 


42 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


and they will not stand in our way again. And no one 
will ever suspect!’^ 

Ted did not wait to hear more. With a face white 
with anger he hastened to where Stanley was clamp- 
ing the Lewis gun to the iron bars of the turret. 


CHAPTER V 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 

Ted’s first impulse was to tell Stanley immediately 
of the conversation he had heard in the hangar. But 
the roar of the motor made this impossible. Then it 
occurred to him that the two officers might be watch- 
ing them, so he decided to withhold the information 
until they were safely in their own quarters. 

Stanley’s face was a puzzle as he listened to the 
story. He did not interrupt until the recital was 
completed. 

am surprised that they should resent our pres- 
ence here,” he said finally. There is room enough 
for all of us, but these fellows must have come bent 
on being the whole show and are determined to have 
their way. Still, it is almost impossible to believe 
they were altogether in earnest. Perhaps they knew 
you were listening and tried to frighten us.” 

‘^That is what they said, no matter what their real 
intention. I think the thing ought to be reported to 
the colonel.” 

^Terhaps we should report it, but that would only 

make matters worse. Why not wait until we have 
43 


44 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


some proof of their intentions? Then we shall have 
a fair case against them. In the meantime I guess we 
can take care of ourselves.’^ 

^^We must take every precaution. There is too 
much at stake for us to make a break one way or the 
other.'* 

“Yes, we will be very careful. And we will let it go 
at that. I think we shall be able to tell without 
trouble if there has been any tampering with the ships. 
A strict watch must be kept, for one thing, and we 
shall make a most thorough inspection of our machine 
before each flight," said Stanley. “Above all, we 
must work fast; that is, get into and out of our desti- 
nation as soon as possible, and then we shall be at 
liberty to leave the country. If we speed up we may 
be able to forestall our rivals." 

“How about a test flight to-morrow? And then an 
attempt to reach the hidden place a few days later?" 

“The very thing. Have a first trial flight to-mor- 
row and then spend a few days making adjustments 
while we also make our other preparations. After 
that the dash for the mountains. But we may have 
to alter our plans greatly. With the opposition and 
competition we have now it will not be possible to 
make an unlimited number of flights. We might suc- 
ceed in going once or twice without trouble, but if we 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 45 


went too often and remained away for long periods of 
time they would become suspicious and either stop us 
or try to follow to see what we were doing/ ^ 

have a scheme we could try. Why not take a 
load of equipment on the first trip and cache it in one 
of the caves; then open up the underground river and 
take out as much gold as we want that way. If we 
have to discontinue flying before we bring out very 
much in the plane we can go back by the overland 
route and pick up what we have hidden in the forest. 
That will save a lot of time and trouble.” 

'^We could not improve on that if we tried,” Stanley 
agreed enthusiastically. While I do the final tinker- 
ing on the machine you can be gathering the things 
together. Bring them to our hangar, load them at 
night, and we can hop away early the next morning.” 

Somehow the news had spread that there was to be 
a trial flight on the following day, and a huge crowd, 
composed mostly of Indians, gathered on the outskirts 
of the field at daybreak. It was not until shortly after 
noon, however, that everything was in readiness for 
the initial attempt. The two donned their leather 
coats, helmets, and goggles, and climbed into the 
cockpits. At a signal from Stanley the crew removed 
the wooden blocks from under the wheels and swung 
the ship around into the wind. Stanley gradually 


46 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


opened the throttle, and as the roar of the engine in- 
creased in volume the machine gathered speed and 
raced over the even ground. In a moment it had left 
the earth and was soaring upward at an appreciable 
angle. The crowd of onlookers waved their hats and 
burst into a wild cheer, and Ted, who was standing in 
the rear pit, leaned over the rim and waved his hand 
toward the groimd as they sped into the distance. 

Stanley carefully watched the braces, struts, and 
wings, but as there was no unusual vibration, he tried 
a number of turns, banking gently, dived and zoomed, 
and in other ways tested the craft. Its stabihty and 
balance were to his entire satisfaction. Then they 
ascended to a height of five thousand feet and per- 
formed a series of stunts that even the birds would 
not dare attempt. They side-shpped, dived, and 
spiralled, did wing-overs, and ended in a series of 
loops. After that they descended to the field in a 
long tail-spin, levelling off just in time to land easily 
and gracefully in front of their hangar. 

The colonel was most enthusiastic and congratu- 
lated them heartily, but the two lieutenants kept in 
the background and offered no comments. 

There are only a few wires to tighten a little,’’ 
Stanley informed the commanding officer. ^^They are 
always liable to slacken somewhat during the first 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 47 


flights. The fuselage is lined up perfectly. If the 
colonel so desires, we shall be glad to make a long 
cross-country flight next Sunday. That could serve 
as a final test, after which the ship would be ready to 
go into commission for the regular work of training 
cadets. 

Splendid the colonel replied. “Go anywhere 
you like. Give the machine a most thorough trial. 
The instructors and pupils are waiting impatiently 
for their turn.’^ 

Two days later, as they were going over the ship 
for a final inspection, Stanley suddenly noticed that 
the keys had been removed from the pins that fast- 
ened the right upper wing to the body. With a slight 
motion of his hand he indicated the fact to Ted. 

“Now we shall find out who is responsible for that,^^ 
he said to Ted between his teeth. 

They had the ship rolled out on the line and started 
the engines. The colonel and the two lieutenants 
were on the field as usual, watching the operations. 

“Perhaps the lieutenants would like a flight to- 
day?’^ Stanley suggested pleasantly, approaching the 
trio. “With the coloneks consent, and so far as we 
are concerned, the ship is at your disposal.^’ 

The two began to look uncomfortable, and one of 
them stammered an excuse about not being prepared 


48 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


with the proper clothing. The colonel promptly sug- 
gested that they might use the outfits of the Ameri- 
cans if they desired, but upon this the other one 
pleaded illness. 

^^WelV' Stanley said, looking straight at the two, 
‘*we thought we might go up for a few minutes, but I 
guess we had better not. If it is not safe for you, it 
is not safe for us.’^ 

The colonel understood that there was some diffi- 
culty, but said nothing until the two instructors had 
gone. Then he questioned the Americans as to the 
meaning of the affair. They showed him the pins 
with the missing keys. 

‘^But you have no evidence against any one!^^ he 
said slowly. ‘‘This is most serious, but I cannot 
accuse any one of such an act without proof. 

“No, but in the future the hangars must be guarded 
day and night. No one must be permitted to enter 
without a written pass from you.’' 

“That is a good idea. It shall be done. I shall im- 
mediately issue an order to that effect.” 

The damage was soon repaired and the ship rolled 
back into the hangar. 

Ted spent the greater part of the next morning mak- 
ing purchases in the city, and the packages were de- 
livered to the field early in the afternoon. They had 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 49 


been compelled to buy numerous things connected 
with their work during the previous weeks, so the ar- 
rival of the boxes caused no comment. Ted stored 
them in a corner of the hangar and covered them 
with a tarpauling. 

That night they carefully studied their map, on 
which the location of the Hidden Valley had been 
marked as accurately as possible, as they had done so 
many times before. And at daybreak on the follow- 
ing morning Ted loaded the packages into the ship, 
while Stanley went for a conference with the colonel. 
When the latter, too, arrived on the field, the plane 
was on the fine with the engine roaring. 

Although the guards assured them that none had 
approached the hangar during the night, the two 
spent considerable time in a minute inspection of the 
machine. And when the sun was an hour high in the 
heavens they left the ground, circled the field until 
they had reached an altitude of several thousand feet, 
then headed straight to the north. 

If their calculations were right, they should reach 
the valley in an hour, unless they encountered a strong 
head-wind. Allowing another hour for the return, 
there would be a leeway of a third hour, for the fuel- 
supply, counting that contained in the emergency-tank 
overhead, was ample for three hours. 


50 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


From directly above, the mountain peaks appeared 
flattened out exactly like the plateaux and valleys, but 
they could be distinguished from the latter by the 
patches of snow and fields of black rocks. A wind 
from the south added greatly to their speed, so that 
the landscape beneath them moved back at a rapid 
pace. To their right, and far, far below, lay the sea of 
dark-green Amazonian jungle. 

Here and there among the bleak mountain-peaks 
lay httle green valleys with square, blocklike dots 
scattered about singly and in groups. To the casual 
observer they might have been mistaken for stones. 
But to the trained eye they were clearly Indian huts, 
distinguishable from the other objects by their regular 
outlines. And if Ted looked closely he could make 
out minute specks moving toward the houses; they 
were the Indians running to shelter, terrified, no 
doubt, by the roaring spectre in the sky. 

^^Keep your eyes open wide,” Stanley shouted back 
to his companion after he had throttled down the 
motor so that its roar did not drown the sound of his 
voice. ^^Look for the yellow vapor and the ring of 
volcanoes. The wall, too. What was that?” 

A black form had passed them at great speed, its 
shadow blanketing one side of the craft. 

Ted looked back, knowing that it could not have 
been a cloud, for the sky was clear. 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 51 

a condor/^ he called at the top of his voice, 
just as Stanley opened the throttle. Even as he 
spoke the great bird was wheeling gracefully and 
heading in their direction. Master of the desolate 
mountain tops and of the air above them, the huge 
bird was evidently investigating or challenging this 
newcomer into its realm. 

Ted pounded the linen side of the fuselage frantically 
with his gloved hand, and at the signal Stanley auto- 
matically pushed the control forward, ever so shghtly, 
and the ship went into a steep dive. It was part of 
their old code, originated on the Western Front, and 
in the emergency both remembered it instantly. 

They were not a moment too soon. The great bird 
shot past above them with a rush of wings audible 
above the slow throbbing of the throttled-down motor. 

Just as Stanley brought the plane to a level keel, 
the bird wheeled, and again came toward them, from 
the front, but this time the pilot saw it in time. He 
must avoid collision with the audacious creature, for 
the impact of the heavy body against the struts of pro- 
peller would be enough to shatter them and send them 
crashing to the ground. His first impulse was to use 
the machine-gun in an attempt either to kill the 
bird or to cause it to swerve; but a second thought 
seemed better. He waited until the black form was 


52 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


a scant hundred yards away; then he pulled hard on 
the control, and instantly the bird seemed to drop 
into space below them. What had really happened 
was that the ship had bounded upward in a steep 
zoom, passing high above the attacker, and before 
the latter could turn, Stanley had resumed the level 
course and opened wide the throttle. The ship 
started forward at such great speed that the bird, 
swift of wing though it was, could not overtake them; 
and they soon lost it in the distance, a black speck 
growing constantly smaller in the unclouded sky. 

After that they flew at a lower altitude, so as not to 
arouse the ire of other condors that might be soaring 
at that dizzy height. 

Ted was carefully scanning the ground, on which 
everything now appeared with startling distinctness. 
Below was an Indian trail on which a caravan of 
llamas had been wending its leisurely way. The 
leader of the file stopped and evidently sounded an 
alarm of some kind, for in a moment the panic-stricken 
animals were dashing down the trail, leaving a cloud 
of dust in their wake and scattering their packs by 
the wayside. After leaping a stone wall they disap- 
peared into the doorway of a hut. At the same time 
a number of Indians, wearing bright-colored blankets, 
darted out of the rear doorway, routed from their 


IN QUEST OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE 53 


abode by the onrushing beasts, but no sooner had 
they gained the open than one of the group discerned 
the strange monster above them, and back they 
dashed into the hut. 

Ted was watching the spot long after to see if any 
of the occupants of the shelter would appear after 
they had passed, when the engine again slowed down. 

“That looks like the spot over there, Stanley 
shouted, nodding toward the landscape in front of 
them. 

Ted looked in that direction and nodded assent. 
Far ahead, and to one side, lay a circle of yellow 
vapor; it seemed to hug the earth in a solid ring, while 
colunms and whisps rose into the sky to a great height. 
That could mean but one thing. It was the impene- 
trable barrier of poisonous gases arising from the chain 
of volcanoes surrounding the Hidden Valley. A quar- 
ter of an hour later they had crossed the margin of 
the ring. There it was, directly beneath them — the 
long valley with its winding river, Uti with the dismal 
lagoon glistening in the sunlight, and the great wall 
that separated the two places showing like a narrow 
gray ribbon. To the left was another valley with 
high, steep walls of rock hemming it in on all sides, 
but there was no vapor clinging to the rim of that 
enclosure. 


54 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Stanley shut down the power and they began a 
rapid and almost noiseless descent in a series of grace- 
ful spirals. When down to five hundred feet above 
the ground, he again opened the throttle and circled a 
few times, while both craned their heads over the sides 
of the cockpits, looking for a suitable place to land. 
In a moment they recognized the level strip of beach 
on the border of the lake, the very spot, in fact, where 
their canoe had been stranded several years before; 
another spiral, then a long glide, and they had landed 
on the hard sand. 

At last they were in the region of gold-filled caves, a 
mere stone^s throw from the place where the vast 
treasure of the Incas had lain untouched for so many 
centuries. The two scrambled out of their cramped 
quarters and jumped to the ground. Then, dashing 
their helmets and goggles aside, they started in a wild 
rush toward the cave. 


CHAPTER VI 
THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 

Upon reaching the entrance to the underground 
chamber they stopped. The vision of Timichi, the 
demented, self-styled king they had encountered on 
their previous visit, loomed up before them. What if 
he were still ahve and had observed their approach? 
It was not probable, for even years ago he had been 
very old and in ill health; but it was just barely possi- 
ble that he still hved. In that event he would be 
awaiting them in the darkened passageway with some 
heavy weapon with which to attack them. He had 
every advantage, and that he would submit to the 
seizure of the treasure without putting up a fight was 
out of the question. 

'^Let^s call to him,’’ Ted suggested. Perhaps he 
will recognize our voices or his name and come out — if 
he is in there.” 

They called ^^Timichi,” then ^^Loco,” which latter 
was the name he had liked and which applied to him 
so well. But there was no response. Then they ad- 
vanced slowly, but no sinister figure dashed out of 
the blackness to dispute their way. 

A few steps and they had entered the treasure- 
55 


56 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


chamber. The light from the openings in the ceil- 
ing shone full upon their faces. They broke into a 
run in their eagerness to reach the shining heaps 
of yellow metal. Then they slackened their pace, 
stopped, and stared hard — first straight ahead and 
then at one another. Was it true? Could it be pos- 
sible? Or were they dreaming? For a moment they 
were speechless, but Stanley finally managed to force 
the fateful words through his lips. 

‘Ht^s gone, it’s gone!” he cried hoarsely. '‘The 
gold is gone!” 

"Yes, it’s gone!” Ted echoed. "There is not a 
speck of it left. All our trouble is for nothing.” 

Stanley burst into a laugh almost hysterical in its 
sudden shrillness. 

"Why, what a pair of chumps we are! Timichi 
must have taken it away. He was the only one this 
side of the wall. He got some foolish notion or other 
into his head and so carried away the treasure.” 

"Of course! And being old and feeble, he could 
not have taken it very far. He took it to one of the 
neighboring caves, where we shall find it in a few 
minutes. It did give me a scare, though, to find the 
place empty.” 

"Same here,” agreed Stanley. "For a minute I 
was thunderstruck. I could not even think straight.” 


THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 


57 


They hurried from the cavern and began a sys- 
tematic exploration of the numerous openings that 
led to subterranean chambers in the mountainside. 
Some were so dark that they had to make constant 
use of their flash-hghts in finding their way about. 
Others were illuminated by shafts of dayhght that 
entered through crevices overhead. Most of the caves 
bore no evidence of ever having been occupied ; others 
had evidently been used as lairs by curious wild beasts 
of a bygone age, and their bones, mingled with those 
of the creatures on which they had preyed, strewed the 
earthen floor. 

At last they came to the cave where Timichi had 
pointed out to them the rows of his silent subjects. 
They had avoided this place imtil the last, because 
they did not want to look upon the rows of dead. 
Now, as they had half expected, they found the re- 
mains of Timichi, dressed in his gorgeous finery, and 
sitting on a stone with his head resting against the 
wall, as if surveying his little kingdom of the departed. 
It was weird and pathetic and they did not stay 
long. 

As for the gold, it had not been found. It had dis- 
appeared as completely as if the rumbling craters had 
opened and engulfed it with their fiery mouths. 

“It’s the most mysterious thing I ever heard of. 


58 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


There were tons of it, and it does not seem possible 
that Timichi could have carried it away at slU” 

bet he didnT. Some one else has been here 
since we left. Let’s look around,” Ted rephed. 

The underground river occurred to them first of all. 
It was by this means that they had made their escape 
during their previous visit to the dismal place, just as 
it seemed they were condemned to a hving death in 
company with the demented Timichi. 

When, after a tedious journey along the murky 
margin of the lagoon, they finally reached the mouth 
of the subterranean stream, they found the entrance 
blocked by a mass of stones. Nor was the barrier the 
result of a landslide, as they had supposed when they 
tried to force their way through from the other side; 
the stones had been placed there by human hands. 
Some one had indeed anticipated their return and had 
tried to forestall them in every way. 

Then they returned to the cave in which the gold 
had been concealed and carefully looked around for 
traces or clews of the one who had Vemoved the trea- 
sure, and after a lengthy search their efforts were 
rewarded. A faint trail led from the entrance toward 
the great wall. They followed the indistinct path, 
breathless with anticipation; it ran straight to the 
point where the wall joined the abrupt mountainside. 


THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 


59 


And there, under the massive structure, a hole had 
been dug large enough for men to pass freely to and 
fro. The gold had been carried back into the Hidden 
Valley. 

^^Quizquiz both shouted in one breath. ^Ht was 
he. No one else would have thought of it or had the 
cunning to put through such an undertaking.’^ 

The hole had been partially blocked with a heap of 
earth and stones. 

^^Not even this place, which had the reputation of 
being the home of the devils, could stop Quizquiz,” 
Stanley said. see through it now. After our 
escape in the canoe he planned to get us back. He 
had the hole dug and found that we were gone. Then 
they saw the underground river. Putting two and 
two together, he could easily figure out how we got 
away. He knew we should return, so he had the 
river blocked and carried away the gold.” 

^^We are stumped, all right,” Ted admitted. ^^All 
my wonderful plans have gone soaring. We might as 
well go back and forget about the whole thing. But 
it is a bitter pill to swallow.” 

They made their way to the plane slowly and suf- 
fering all the agony of keenest disappointment; their 
hopes and ambitions were not to be realized. Their 
dreams of the future had vanished in thin air. 


60 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Let’s have a bite to eat/’ Stanley suggested. “I 
feel faint and weak. Then we can fly back to the 
field, give up our jobs, and get back home — soon, I 
hope; the sooner the better.” 

^^What about all the stuff we brought with us?” 
Ted asked. ‘‘We shall not need it.” 

“No ! We might as well dump it. No use to car^ 
back the extra weight. And, by the way, what is in 
those boxes? They are awfully heavy. I could tell 
we had a big load aboard because I could not get the 
ship to climb fast.” 

“That is the dynamite,” Ted said calmly. 

“What?” in consternation. 

“Dynamite. About a hundred poimds of it!” 

“Do you mean to tell me those boxes are full of 
dynamite?” 

“Certainly. We should have needed it to blow 
open the entrance to the underground river.” 

“Good heavens!” Stanley fairly shrieked. “Think 
of carting along a load of dynamite in a country like 
this. If we had had a forced landing we should have 
blown into bits.” 

“I thought of that. But a forced landing in a 
mountainous country would have meant our finish 
anyway. So what is the difference?” 

“I guess you are right, but if I had known it I 


THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 


61 


should not have attempted to fly a single inch until 
we had taken it out. It is a good thing you did not 
tell me about it.^^ 

'^What shall we do with it?’’ 

‘‘Get rid of it as soon as we can.” 

“But if any one from the valley should come here 
he would find it,” said Ted. “I have an idea. Let’s 
mark the boxes for Quizquiz and leave a note saying 
that if he hits them with his golden sceptre he will 
see all his forefathers; then shove the boxes through 
the hole under the wall.” 

“It would serve him right, but they cannot read. 
Besides, we do not want to kill any one. We shall 
have to hide it or throw it into the lake.” 

“No, not throw it into the lake,” Ted said, with a 
peculiar shudder. “We are not out of here yet; we 
might need it ! ” 

“Are you predicting more trouble? Hasn’t enough 
happened to us already?” 

“I don’t know. But something tells me not to 
throw it away. I feel queer; it might be my imagina- 
tion, but it is true just the same.” 

“All right; do anything you like with it. But we 
will take it out of the ship this very minute; and the 
other things, too. We cannot be bothered with use- 
less baggage.” 


62 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


They unlashed and unloaded the boxes. Then they 
ate a hght lunch. 

‘^We can hide everything in one of the smaller 
caves,” Ted decided. ^^No one will go prowling 
around in any of them. And if — I almost said when 
— ^we need the things we shall know where to find 
them.” 

When they had disposed of the packages they pre- 
pared to depart. It was mid-aftemoon and they must 
lose no more time in returning to the field. The 
colonel, no doubt, was anxious about them already. 

In order to take off properly they were compelled 
to head toward the great wall because a current of 
air came from that direction. But the distance was 
sufficient to enable them to clear it by an ample mar- 
gin. They also wanted to circle above the valley a 
few times for a farewell glimpse of the hiding-place of 
the last of the once powerful Incan nation, for soon 
they should leave it, never to return. 

With a steadily increasing roar of the engine the 
ship raced over the ground, and when it had gained 
enough headway Stanley pulled back the stick and 
the plane leaped into the air. In a moment they had 
cleared the wall by a hundred feet. Now they were 
skimming above the depression concealing the Inca’s 
stronghold. 


THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 


63 


Ted leaned out over the rim of the gunpit in order 
to have a good view of the fleeting ground below them. 
There was the river down which Moses had steered 
their plunging canoe to safety on the night of their 
escape, spread across patches of velvet green; stone 
huts that looked like toy blocks were scattered over the 
barren places, some in rows, others in groups and vil- 
lages. People, terrified by the monster thundering over 
their heads, were scurrying to cover behind stone walls 
and into doorways. Far, far in the distance was a 
great city; Ted recognized it as the Patallacta, or City 
on the Hill, where they had first met Huayna Capac, 
the old king. Nearer was another collection of build- 
ings covering a large territory; that was the City of 
Gold, with its palaces, gardens, and the great temple 
of the sun. Ted remembered it, too, only too well, for 
it was there they had been tried and condemned be- 
cause of Quizquiz^s treachery. But they had escaped, 
thanks to Moses! And here they were again, safe, 
high in the air, out of reach of their enemy. 

Without warning there came a few loud explosions 
from the exhausts, the engine hesitated, picked 
up again for a moment, slowed down, faltered, and 
stopped. Stanley realized immediately that the fuel 
in the main tank was exhausted, so he quickly shut 
off the feed-valve and turned on the supply from the 


64 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


second reservoir, after which he dived at a steep 
angle, so that the rush of air might spin the propeller 
and thus crank the engine. But the expected roar 
did not come. Apparently the gasolene did not flow, 
for while the propeller was turning, there was only the 
coughing sound of a dead engine. He looked at the 
indicator in alarm; the tank was full, there was no 
mistake about that. 

Almost before he knew it he was so near the ground 
that there was not time for further efforts to determine 
the cause of the trouble. He barely succeeded in 
straightening out the diving craft before it struck the 
earth with a thud. They cavorted along over a rock- 
strewn field beside the river, boimding and threatening 
to upset, and when the ship finally came to a stop the 
two were too dazed for speech. For, in their wild 
sprint over the uneven ground the propeller had struck 
a boulder and one of the blades was shattered. 

They were indeed in an unenviable predicament. 
Not for all of the gold of the Incas should they have 
entered the Hidden Valley voluntarily. Yet fate had 
decreed that they should find themselves there, and 
under the most distressing circumstances. The ship 
was as useless as if it had been broken into bits, and 
there was no other means of escape. 

They were as good as in the hands of Quizquiz, their 


THE CROWNING MISFORTUNE 


65 


enemy, who did not know the meaning of the words 
fair play or mercy. He would come to them soon 
with his hordes of followers, overwhelm them, and 
gloat over them as a beast of prey might do over its 
victim, exulting over their helplessness and over his 
own unlimited power. At last his day had arrived 
when he could repay them for the humihation they 
had caused him during the athletic contests, where 
they had made such a superior showing against him 
and the other picked youths of the nation. And their 
escape — that rankled, too. 

As they thought of these things they grew pale and 
shuddered. There could be but one outcome of the 
misadventure, and they knew only too well what that 
end should be. 


CHAPTER VII 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 

With each passing minute the helplessness of their 
position was more firmly driven home upon Ted and 
Stanley. They expected momentarily to be attacked 
by the horde of Indians, many of whom they had seen 
from above. But not a human being came within 
range of their vision. 

^^What fools we were,^’ Ted observed dejectedly, 
^^not to let well enough alone. We would come back, 
and now 

^^That is only human nature, I guess. Never sat- 
isfied and always eager to take a chance. Well, we 
are like the pitcher that went to the well once too 
often.^’ 

Why donT they come after us, I wonder 

'^Superstitious, perhaps. But they will be here in 
due time. Count on that ! ” 

Ted changed the unpleasant subject. 

"Whatever could have happened that the engine 
died that way? Did I neglect to fill the second 
tank?^^ 

"No. It^s full. There is something mysterious 
66 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


67 


about it. We might try to find out what the trouble 
is while we are waiting.” 

They examined the tank for air-leaks that would 
reduce the pressure to the point where the fuel would 
not feed. But the gauge registered five pounds — 
more than enough. Then they began tracing the slen- 
der feed-pipe from the tank to the carburetor. Almost 
immediately the trouble was found. Some one had 
disconnected one of the joints and had stopped up the 
pipe with soap, so of course the gasolene could not 
flow. 

‘^We have our friends, the lieutenants, to thank for 
that,” Stanley said bitterly. ‘^It^s hard to beheve 
that any one could do such a thing.” 

‘^They did a good job. I guess we shall never 
stand in their way again.” 

^^If we had only brought a spare stick there would 
be a good chance of getting out of here. We could 
make the change in a httle while and leave before any 
one had the courage to come near us.” 

^^But the fact is we did not bring a spare stick. We 
knew better than that, too. Luck has been against 
us from the very start; and it^s getting worse.” 

‘^We might rig up the wireless outfit and send out 
a call for help. That is the only thing I can think of,” 
Stanley suggested without enthusiasm. 


68 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


‘Ht can do no harm, anyway/^ 

They unreeled the long wire antenna and removed 
the lead weight, or “fish,'' from the end, replacing it 
with a bottle from the emergency kit. In flight the 
purpose of the flsh was to keep the wire trailing out 
behind as straight as possible; but now they stretched 
the slender braided metal thread to the top of a tree 
near the river and tied the bottle to the highest branch. 
In this manner a message could be flashed into space, 
they did not know how far, but none could be taken 
in answer, as there was no receiving equipment in the 
plane. 

Ted switched on the battery and placed his Angers 
on the key. 

0. S., S. 0. S.,” the spark was flashed into the 
ether; stranded one hour north of Cuzco, in valley 
surrounded by ring of yellow vapor. Need propeller. 
Notify aviation-field, Cuzco.’^ 

The message was repeated a number of times. 

'‘We are wasting time and energy,’’ Ted said sud- 
denly, releasing the key and cutting the switch. "In 
the flrst place, I doubt if the spark will carry beyond 
the valley. And I just remembered that even if they 
should pick it up at the flying-fleld, they could not pos- 
sibly help us. There is no other ship in commission, 
and even if there were, the only persons who could 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 69 

handle it are the lieutenants, who certainly would not 
come to help us.” 

don’t look for help from the field, but I thought 
there might be a station somewhere near here in the 
moimtains, a secret government outfit. And if the 
facts were known, it might be possible that a ship 
would be sent from some other camp, perhaps even 
from Bolivia.” 

'^All right. I’ll send it again and add our names to 
the end of it.” 

Once more the appeal was wafted into space. 

have it,” Ted shouted, jumping from his seat. 

We will get a new stick right here !” 

‘^Get one here?” 

'^Yes. When the Indians show up it is as likely as 
not that they will be overawed and treat us like gods 
instead of starting trouble, for didn’t we come from 
the sky? We can keep on our goggles and helmets 
as a disguise; then put them to work.” 
fail to see what good that would do.” 

^‘People who can build walls and houses of large 
stones that fit together so perfectly they stand for 
centuries; who put up temples and palaces, and who 
make such wonderful textiles and ornaments, must be 
pretty skilful with their hands, and also have a good 
deal of intelligence to back them up. We will get 


70 


IN .THE TIGER’S lAIR 


them to make a new propeller, under our direction 
and with our help. Then we can leave the way we 
came.” 

‘Ht sounds wild and impracticable.” 

‘‘Wait and see. Leave the matter to me.” 

It was not until the next day that they saw signs of 
life in the vaUey. They had eaten the last of their 
food and had spent a miserable night huddled up in 
the seats of the stranded plane. 

A long column of Indians, marching in orderly man- 
ner, appeared from the direction of the river that 
flowed through the centre of the depression. At first 
the advancing throng was too far distant to distin- 
guish its character, but as it drew nearer the two 
watchers saw by the gorgeous dress and glittering 
ornaments that many of the marchers belonged to 
the nobihty. 

“What are we going to do?” Ted asked, breaking 
the suspense. 

“The machine guns are in good order and there are 
over five hundred rounds of ammunition in the mag- 
azines.” 

“Shall we open fire?” 

“No; at least not yet. We could do that only as a 
last resort. It would rout them in terror, but they 
would come back. There are many thousands of 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


71 


them, you know. If gaining a few hours^ or days’ 
time alone would help us, I should be in favor of stand- 
ing them off with the guns. But that would be of no 
use whatever to us. As you suggested, we need their 
help, and the way to get it is to play on their super- 
stitious natures and put them to work. It seems like 
a flimsy bulwark right now that the mob is bearing 
down on us; but let’s try it and trust to luck. I will 
do the parleying and you supervise the work when the 
time comes. I can see no other way out of it.” 

^^Nor I,” Ted agreed. 

The Indians had halted while still some distance 
away and were obviously holding a discussion as to 
whether or not they should advance. A few minutes 
later they again started forward, then stopped for a 
second conference. This time they reached a deflnite 
conclusion, for they now approached in an unfaltering 
manner. 

Ted and Stanley put on their helmets and goggles 
and, at least to outward appearances, calmly awaited 
the coming of the mob. When the Indians had 
reached a point a hundred feet from the airplane they 
stopped. 

Two files of soldiers stepped forward, halted, and 
turned to face one another, forming a wide lane. 
Scarcely had they taken their station when a proces- 


72 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


sion began to advance through this formation. Ted 
and Stanley watched with pounding hearts and bated 
breath. 

First came a group of menials sweeping the ground 
with branches of evergreens; then a number of officers 
or high officials garbed in briUiant robes and bearing 
various insignia of rank in their hands, such as silver 
staffs and bundles of rods. Following these, several 
score of youths, walking backward and singing in a 
monotonous cadence, strewed the groimd with flowers. 

A sedan of gold borne on the shoulders of twenty- 
five of the highest nobles came next. The curtains, 
heavily embroidered in colors and threads of gold, 
were drawn so that the occupant of the conveyance 
could not be seen. 

When the men who carried the precious burden 
reached the end of the lane formed by the soldiers 
they halted and lowered the litter to the level of their 
knees. The curtains were drawn aside and an elderly 
man wrapped m a mantle of black-and-white and 
wearing numerous amulets, bracelets, and anklets 
stepped out upon the rug that had been spread on the 
ground for him and stood with outstretched hands. 
Apparently he belonged to the religious order, or per- 
haps he was a witch-doctor, for he made mysterious 
passes with his hands and shook a rattle of dried seeds. 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


73 


After a moment he came forward a dozen paces, bowed 
to the ground, and throwing one corner of his mantle 
over his shoulder in an impressive manner, spoke. 

‘‘Benevolent spirits, demons or men,^’ he began in 
a loud voice, “I know not which you may be, so know 
not how to receive you.^’ 

“And who are you who dares question us?^^ Stanley 
returned, pitting his own strategy against the Indian^s. 

“If you are spirits or demons, you must know that; 
for I am Villac Umu, one of the obedient servants of 
the great Inca, and High Priest of the Temple of the 
Sun. And you?^’ 

“We have come from the sky. That is all you 
shall know until it pleases us to tell you more.’’ 

“Yes, yes; even the king saw the great bird swoop 
into the valley. It filled him with amazement and 
joy, for might it not be a messenger from heaven with 
tidings to the greatest of the Incas? If you are 
brothers of the moon or children of the sun, you may 
confide in me; the king demands to be told, so that 
he may prepare to receive you according to your 
rank.” 

“Why did not the king come in person?” Stanley 
abruptly changed the subject. 

“The king is far away.” 

“Villac Umu, you dare say that? For all you know 


74 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


we may be able to read your most secret thoughts and 
to separate the truth from the untruth.” 

*^Then you must know that I speak truly. The king 
is not here. If he were, you should feel his very pres- 
ence, though you could not see him. He is great and 
powerful and so terrible that he is called the Tiger.” 

^^Go back to your people,” Stanley commanded, 
“and return when I wave my hand like this.” 

The man bowed and turned without a word. 

“What do you make of it?” Ted asked when he was 
out of hearing. “It looks like a plot of some kind.” 

“Certainly. Quizquiz sent him on a spying mis- 
sion, to find out who or what we are. He dared not 
come himself, the coward, but I would bet he is con- 
cealed somewhere in the background, at a safe dis- 
tance. No doubt he connects this occurrence with 
our previous visit, but does not quite trust his own 
judgment.” 

“So much the better. We do not want to see him.” 

“I will call back the old man and tell him what we 
need and ask him to send it to us.” 

“Good ! Tell him to come on.” 

Stanley waved his hand and the waiting figure ap- 
proached. 

“For the present we shall need food, water, and 
shelter,” he began, “and as soon as possible there- 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


75 


after twenty of the most skilled workers in wood, 
who must bring with them their implements; also a 
dozen boards of the finest, hardest wood that grows 
in the valley, of these dimensions.’’ Here he threw 
to the priest a ball of cord, into which he had tied 
knots to show the required length, breadth, and thick- 
ness of the boards. ^^Let them bring an abundance 
of glue, also.” 

'‘But there is no shelter near by,” the spokesman of 
the Indians interposed. "Let the visitors accompany 
me to the villa at the baths where the Inca sojourns, 
and where there is comfort and refreshment.” 

"That is impossible. We shall remain here.” 

"The king will want to know to whom these sup- 
plies are to be given.” 

"Tell him they are for visitors from the sky who are 
disappointed and grieved at the suspicion with which 
they have been received, and who will therefore de- 
part again after a short rest.” 

"The great king will be pained to receive such a 
message, for in addition to being terrible he is also 
generous and kind. He would welcome the visitors 
from the sky in his palace.” 

"Will you kindly convey our requests to him?” 

"With pleasure. And in the meantime tents and 
food will be provided without delay.” Then, after 


76 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


a moment’s silence: ‘^The king will be sad and dis- 
appointed because you will not accept the hospitality 
of his villa. Will you not go, later perhaps, when 
you are rested?” 

Later, perhaps.” 

“Possibly the king may consent to come here as a 
special favor to ” 

“No ! It is not necessary. Urge him not to expose 
his sacred person to the hardships of the trail. Plead 
with him. We could fly to the palace later, so why 
subject the great Inca to any inconvenience.” 

Without a word the priest returned to his followers 
and immediately departed in the direction from which 
the column had come. 

“He is a shrewd old fellow,” Ted said when they 
were gone. 

“But he did not find out much. You don’t think 
he recognized our voices?” 

“I hope not. You should be an actor. You played 
your part very impressively. I almost forgot who was 
talking.” 

A number of soldiers arrived before nightfall. They 
brought tents and baskets of food. After putting up 
the shelters, two of their munber volunteered to remain 
to do the cooking, but Stanley ordered all of them to 
depart. 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


77 


must use the greatest caution. We will be 
surrounded by spies. Instead of using the tents we 
had better take the blankets and sleep on the ground 
under the wings.” 

wish the carpenters would get here, although I 
doubt if they can make a usable propeller. There is 
nothing like trying, though, and we will pretend that 
they can; that will be more cheerful and will give us 
time to look for some other possible opening for 
escape.” 

^^No telling! Something may turn up sooner than 
we expect. That has always been the way here. 
New things happen suddenly every so often. Let’s 
eat.” 

The carpenters did not arrive until the third day. 
They brought all the articles that had been asked for 
and were at once put to work. Their first task was to 
shave down the boards until their surfaces were abso- 
lutely smooth. Then they were all glued together 
face to face, forming a thick block, after which heavy 
stones were placed on top to press them firmly to- 
gether while the glue set. The dexterity with which 
the Indians plied their tempered copper tools was 
remarkable. And the hopes of the two Americans 
rose accordingly, for they saw that the shaping of a 
new propeller was a possibility after all. 


78 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


These hopes, however, were badly shaken a few 
days later. A herald arrived to announce the coming 
of the Inca on the following morning. The youth was 
dressed in a tunic made of small golden disks linked 
together, and comported himself in an arrogant, even 
impudent, manner. 

‘^I have never known it to faiV^ Ted exploded. 
''Just when things are beginning to run smoothly a 
new calamity happens.’’ 

"I knew he would come. They have given him a 
good description of us and of the plane, and as we 
refused to visit him, he decided to come here. You 
remember how curious he was.” 

"Yes, and you know what curiosity did.” 

"I only wish Quizquiz had been the cat.” 

"Well, if he is determined to pay his respects to us, 
we shall return the compliment in due time, count on 
that.” 

"I have just thought of something,” Ted said sol- 
emnly. "The way Pizarro conquered the whole Incan 
nation of many millions was to capture the king. 
Without a leader they were like so many sheep. We 
will capture Quizquiz.” 

"I should like to lay my hands on him for a few 
minutes at least. But how are we going to do it?” 

"Induce him to take a ride after the ship is repaired.” 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


79 


“He would never do it. He^s too big a coward.^^ 
“We will tell him he can soar above the clouds and 
absorb some of the radiance of the sun. That will 
flatter his vanity and he will accept eagerly in spite of 
his fears. Then we can land him outside the valley 
and hold him prisoner while we come back to continue 
our search for the gold. His people will do anything 
to help us and will give us everything they have if we 
will but give them back their king.’^ 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE INCA’S THREAT 

When the Inca hove in sight the following morning 
Ted and Stanley were filled with wonder and dismay. 
It seemed as if the whole population of the valley had 
come with him. Long lines of soldiers marched in 
advance and at the rear of the procession. In the 
centre were the members of his court, the nobles, and 
a numerous body of the clergy. The pomp and splen- 
dor affected by the youthful monarch were surprising 
to the two Americans, who on their previous visit had 
become accustomed to the gorgeous attire of Huayna 
Capac and to the lavish display of wealth with which 
he surrounded himself. 

A horde of menials swept the roadway in advance 
of the royal party; youths in snowy garments sprinkled 
it with scented water and strewed the petals of orchids 
and other rare flowers over the way the ruler must pass. 

The golden fitter in which the king rode was not the 
one used by his father, for, according to custom, upon 
the death of an Inca, all those things connected inti- 
mately with his use accompanied his remains to their 

final resting-place or were destroyed. Quizquiz had a 
80 


THE INCA’S THREAT 


81 


more massive one, encrusted with emeralds, which 
were ingeniously mounted in the pale, pure gold, so as 
to form figmres of the sun rising above the mountain 
tops, of llamas and of condors. And while fifty of his 
subjects of the highest rank trudged along under the 
oppressive weight of the fitter and its occupant. Quiz- 
quiz, reclining on soft cushions, amused himself by 
striking at them with a long-lashed whip. The car- 
riers seemed not to resent this abuse; they deemed it 
an honor thus to serve their sovereign, knowing all the 
while that to trip or fall while bearing the sacred bur- 
den would constitute a crime punishable by death. 

Very obviously the Inca had carefully planned to 
impress the visitors with his power and magnificence. 
When the throng reached the helpless airplane and its 
equally helpless occupants, it formed a circle around 
them, leaving a space in the centre not over a hundred 
feet across. The golden fitter was carried much 
nearer, so that the monarch could have a clear view of 
what was in front of him. 

Ted and Stanley, their faces well concealed by their 
helmets, goggles, and upturned collars, returned the 
insolent stare of Quizquiz, and at the same time took 
in the colorful display of his trappings. On his head 
he wore the scarlet fringe, or 6orZa, that fell down to 
his eyes, with two slender, glittering feathers standing 


82 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


up in front; that was his crown. His mantle, falling 
loosely about his rather well-knit body, was a mass of 
shimmering folds of rich brocade, gold and silver 
threads woven upon a white ground. His arms, which 
were exposed to view, were bedecked with bracelets; 
rings covered his fingers. 

am Quizquiz, Child of the Sun, most illustrious 
of all the Incas that have honored the earth with their 
presence,” he announced haughtily, toying with his 
whip as he spoke. ‘^My authority is unquestioned 
and unlimited. My subjects do my bidding. At a 
word from me they die, if it suits my pleasure. In- 
deed, I am called the Tiger.” 

'^None disputes the glory or the power of the great 
king,” Stanley replied promptly. 

‘^Then make known your mission. The valley is 
sacred ground. Intruders are not welcome, as two 
men from the outer world learned during the reign of 
Huayna Capac, my father.” 

At the latter words the two Americans detected a 
shade of hatred in the speaker’s voice, while his eyes 
flashed fire. 

‘^We desire food, shelter, and rest until it suits our 
convenience to return to the sky whence we came. 
That is a small request to make of a king.” 

'^You came from the sky! I saw that with my 



Very obviously the Inca had carefully planned to impress the visitors 










THE INCA^S THREAT 


83 


own eyes. Are you gods that you travel through 
space like the spirits of the departed?^’ 

^^We are masters of the air/^ Ted said. He did not 
like the attitude of the questioner, and Stanley was 
visibly uneasy. 

For a moment Quizquiz surveyed them. His face, 
while handsome, bore a sullen expression, and the 
beady black eyes and drooping mouth bespoke a cruel 
and cunning disposition. 

^^Yes, yes,^^ he said impatiently. ‘'But are you 
gods? Are you brothers of the sun, or companions of 
the moon? You speak with the voices of men. You 
ask for food and rest, like mortals. 

“All who would make known their thoughts must 
speak with the voices of men. The Inca is no excep- 
tion.^’ 

Quizquiz was plainly puzzled. 

“And the thing that carries you through the air,^^ 
he asked, “is it bird, beast, or devil ?^^ 

“That you shall hear for yourself. It speaks with 
the voice of thunder.’’ 

According to a prearranged plan, Ted sprang to the 
ground and spun the propeller, while Stanley operated 
the switch and throttle. With a snort the engine was 
under way and rapidly picked up speed, until the hand 
of the indicator registered five hundred revolutions a 


84 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


minute, the shattered blade of the propeller adding a 
whining shriek to the roar of the exhausts. 

The Indians stared wide-eyed at the marvellous per- 
formance, and many, no doubt, would have hked 
nothing better than to turn and flee, but the knowl- 
edge that a show of fright would bring dire punishment 
restrained them from following their impulse. 

Stanley cut the switch and the engine stopped. 

^‘Now you have heard,’’ he said. ^^Let your priests 
and wise men interpret the message.” 

Quizquiz called Soncco and a number of other 
sages and after they had all admitted that they were 
unable to interpret the strange sound he dismissed 
them in anger with a flick of his whip. 

Twenty strokes of the lash for each one,” he 
shouted, and a body of soldiers promptly stepped for- 
ward to obey the order. 

“Mercy, great and glorious father,” one of the older 
men cried out, falling upon his knees and extending 
his hands in supphcation. 

“An additional ten strokes for the beggar! Take 
him away,” Quizquiz ordered. “And if any one of 
them so much as sigh while the lash is falling on his 
back, run him through with a lance.” 

“If it pleases the king, I will explain the message,” 
Stanley announced. 


THE INCA^S THREAT 


85 


will hear your words, but let your speech be 
brief, for I am weary/’ 

‘‘The great vehicle would carry the Inca into the 
sky, high above the tallest mountain-peaks, where the 
air is pure and where not even the condor dares ven- 
ture; out of reach of the contaminating earth, to play 
among the clouds and to bask in the bright sunhght; 
it would take him so high that the radiance of the sun 
could descend upon his sacred person; men would be 
blinded by the dazzling splendor of the great king,” 
Stanley announced solemnly. 

“Is that the message?” 

“That is my interpretation. A few days are needed 
for preparations for the momentous event. And then, 
the flight into the heavens which even an Inca has 
never visited.” 

If these speeches were calculated to flatter the 
vanity of Quizquiz, the two were doomed to disap- 
pointment. For a moment he regarded them with 
narrowing eyehds while his hands toyed nervously 
with the whip. Then he flew into a violent rage. 

“Now indeed do I know that you are not gods, nor 
even the messengers of gods,” he shrieked, rising from 
his cushions and raising his whip as if to strike in their 
direction, “for else you must know that I, Quizquiz, 
mightiest of all the great kings, never touch my foot 


86 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


upon the contaminating earth; I honor my highest 
nobles by permitting them to carry my holy person 
from place to place. I need not the radiance of the 
sun, for I am already more resplendent than his bright- 
est rays; is it not through my benevolence that the 
sun shines at all, and the stars come forth at night? 
It is I who permits the wind to blow and the rain to 
fall. Your words are blasphemy to my ears. All who 
live are my slaves, and to them my words are laws. 
Depart at once or you remain here forever !” 

The two had no time to ponder the quandary in 
which this unexpected turn of affairs had placed them, 
and for a moment they were speechless. 

“Villac Umu!” Quizquiz called. ‘^Come to my 
side!” 

Attendants brought forward the sedan containing 
the high priest, which had been kept a few paces to 
the rear previously. It was the same conveyance in 
which he had appeared some days before to interro- 
gate them. 

^^How may I serve my revered father?” Villac 
smirked, with a great show of humility. ^^My one 
hope, my one desire is that I may one day give my 
unworthy life to please the king.” 

Speak not of death, Villac Umu, for I have need 
of you alone among all men. You, who reheve me of 


THE INCA^S THREAT 


87 


the burden of communing with the gods and with the 
spirits, tell me, who are these insolent ones who dare 
invade my kingdom, and who disobey me when I com- 
mand them to depart.’’ 

The high priest languidly raised his hands to his 
eyes, and for a full minute appeared to be lost in 
thought. Then he stood up and pointed toward Ted 
and Stanley with one hand. have divined the 
mystery,” he announced. 

^^Then speak, good Villac,” Quizquiz said indul- 
gently. '^Wisdom such as yours is given to few men. 
I knew I could depend on you.” 

^^The visitors from the sky are no other than the 
two strangers from the outer world who came into the 
valley during the reign of Huayna Capac, your father, 
and then escaped after having been condemned to 
death for their treason against the king. The great 
bird on which they ride is a contrivance of the evil one, 
and I know not the limits of its power. But as for the 
men, I recognize their voices, even though they feign 
hoarseness, and the color of their eyes is not unfamiliar 
to me. Seize them, great king, before they escape.” 

'^He talks like a madman,” Stanley quickly inter- 
rupted, quivering with apprehension. 

Still, I am inclined to believe his words. Uncover 
your heads and faces.” 


88 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


^^When the Inca removes his crimson fringe, for, as 
the borla is the emblem of his position, so does this 
head-dress proclaim ours/^ 

The crowd began to surge forward at this bold de- 
fiance hurled at their sovereign, whose eyes blazed as 
he raised his jewelled hands to heaven. It was a sig- 
nal to the soldiers. Like an avalanche they swept 
upon the plane. The engine not running, Stanley’s 
gun was useless, but Ted swung his weapon and pulled 
the trigger. Three shots rattled out in quick succes- 
sion; then the gun jammed and was worthless. The 
mob was upon them in a flash. Ted and Stanley 
fought valiantly, but the fight was of short duration. 
Numerous hands clutched them; they struck back 
with wrenches, but so soon as one of the soldiers 
dropped another jumped into his place. The odds 
against them were too great to be overcome. 

In a short time the two had been dragged from their 
stronghold, their clothes nearly tom from their bodies, 
and barely conscious of the fact that they were being 
carried to the Inca’s litter. 

Quizquiz’s eyes gleamed with a triumphant and ma- 
licious fire. He gloated over his prisoners, and could 
scarcely keep from leaping from his seat to pounce 
upon them. 

'^Ever since the day I caused the hole to be dug 


THE INCA^S THREAT 


89 


under the wall and learned of your escape, I knew you 
would return; that your greed for gold would over- 
come your better sense, and that you would again fall 
into my power. The great day has arrived. You are 
here, my captives, and I, Quizquiz, am king now! 
You shall suffer for those insults to me, and for your 
treachery to Huayna Capac when you protected the 
youth he had condemned to die. You shall not get 
away this time, be assured of that. You shall know 
what it is to suffer bitter agony, and when death 
comes to relieve you from the torture you will wel- 
come it. Nor shall you long be kept in ignorance of 
the fate that awaits you, for the knowledge will 
add to your torment. The highest intellect of the 
nation shall pass the sentence. The valley will be 
rid of you forever and we shall live in peace, know- 
ing well that your secret ends with' your hves,^’ he 
roared. 

Quizquiz, said Stanley, recovering his senses suffi- 
ciently to speak, and shaking his clenched fists up at 
the Inca before the guards roughly grasped his arms. 
^^You cannot frighten us with your threats; it is you 
who are afraid, not we. We got the better of you 
once and we can do it again. If you are a man, come 
down and fight me now. I will show you up for the 
weakling you are, depending on that villainous crea- 


90 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


ture called Villac Umu for every word that comes out 
of your mouth. You havenT a thought of your own; 
if a bird had so little sense it would fly backwards. 
You may kill us if you dare, but so surely as you do 
our friends in the outer world will come in search of 
us; they will find the Hidden Valley and enter it as we 
did, from the sky. Your crimson crown will be 
dragged in the mud and your people exterminated. 
Now do your worst and the responsibility for what fol- 
lows will rest on your own head.’^ 

The throng stood silent as death, hardly daring to 
breathe. No one had thought it possible that any 
human being could utter such a tirade against the 
Inca and live. In awe, they expected the speaker to 
be struck to the ground by a hand from heaven, for 
had he not insulted a divinity? Even the king was 
speechless and waited for the miracle that he felt sure 
must happen, and that would vindicate his position. 
But nothing occurred. Then the people began to stir; 
into their minds had come the first suspicion that 
Quizquiz was not a god, but very human like the rest 
of them. 

am waiting.^^ Stanley broke the spell with the 
sound of his voice. ‘^Will you come down and fight, 
or do you admit before all your people that you are 
a coward and afraid of me?^^ 


THE INCA^S THREAT 


91 


In response Quizquiz flicked his whip and the nobles 
holding his litter turned and started away. 

The multitude, however, did not go away; it broke 
up into small groups and in hushed voices discussed 
the momentous events of the day. 


CHAPTER IX 
SONCCO’S SHREWDNESS 


The two prisoners were closely guarded by a double 
circle of soldiers imtil the day drew to a close; then 
the guards tied their hands securely behind their 
backs, but not without a struggle, and lashed their feet 
with tough thongs and fastened the ends to stakes 
driven into the ground. A small shelter-tent was 
erected over them. 

There they remained throughout the long hours of 
the night, helpless and suffering from the numerous 
bruises they had received in the encounter and from 
the cramped position of their limbs. Added to these 
tortures were hunger and a burning thirst, for they 
had been given neither food nor drink. And during 
all this time they heard the monotonous tramp of 
many sentinels walking around their prison. 

In the morning the thongs were loosened and coarse 
bread and a basin of water were placed before them. 
As they ate Stanley tried to engage the guards in con- 
versation. 

“What is all the noise outside he asked. 

92 


SONCCO^S SHREWDNESS 


93 


The soldiers did not reply. 

^Hs the Inca still here? Tell him to call; I have 
thought of several other things I should like to say to 
him.’’ But still no reply, so Stanley concluded that 
further attempts would be futile. 

When the two had eaten, the guards gathered up 
the empty bowls and departed. Ted looked through 
the opening in the tent; what he saw made him stare 
in wonder. There was great activity in the direction 
he could see. Tents in hundreds were being put up 
and groups of soldiers, led by gaily dressed officers, 
were marching back and forth. The surrounding 
country was assuming the aspect of a vast encamp- 
ment. 

Stanley, too, came up to the opening. 

Looks like preparations for a battle,” he said. 

''And it is all for our benefit, no doubt. I wonder 
what Quizquiz intends to do?” 

"We shall find out soon enough. I wonder where 
he is?” 

They tried to venture out of their tent, but the 
guards pounced upon them immediately and forced 
them back into the prison. 

Days passed slowly for the two confined within the 
narrow space of their shelter; but, fortunately, they 
were not again bound. Evidently their captor had no 


94 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


fear that they might escape — the place was too well 
guarded. The suspense was terrible. They knew only 
too well that all the preparations going on around 
them were directly connected with their fate; but 
what that fate was to be they could not even surmise. 

One day Ted noticed that Stanley was counting a 
number of knots that he had tied in a string. ^^Poor 
fellow,” he thought as he watched him sadly, '^his 
mind is going, but I cannot blame him. It’s enough 
to drive any one mad. Sometimes I think I feel my- 
self slipping, too”; the latter was uttered half aloud. 

‘^What are you mumbling about?” Stanley asked, 
looking up. guess I know; it is enough to drive 
anybody crazy.” 

was just thinking the same thing about you when 
I saw you playing with that string. What are you 
doing?” 

^^What, this? Take a good look and see if you 
can’t guess.” 

After a while Ted was compelled to admit that he 
could not make out the meaning of the string. 

'^Well,” Stanley informed him, ^^this is my calen- 
dar. I am keeping track of the days. Each morning 
I tie another knot. We left Cuzco on the 12th of the 
month; it is the 26th to-day.” 

^^How the days pass, even if the hours drag! I 


SONCCO^S SHREWDNESS 


95 


would not have thought it is so long since we got into 
this. By now we have been given up for lost. I can 
only hope the colonel suspects what happened and 
starts an investigation. One of the sentinels must 
have been in the plot and may talk if he is cornered.’’ 

Further conversation was checked by the entrance 
of an officer of the guard attended by a score of sol- 
diers. He looked at them haughtily and elevated his 
dagger to the waist-line, point outward. 

‘^Quizquiz, Inca, Child of the Sun, greatest king 
that ever came from heaven to rule the earth, com- 
mands that you appear before his sacred person. 
Prepare at once to face the mighty sovereign,” he an- 
nounced in a loud voice. 

^^Did he tell you to say that?” Stanley asked. 

'^He did. You will come at once. The king waits 
on no man.” 

thought so. It sounds like him. Tell Quizquiz, 
Inca, and biggest coward that ever Hved that we are 
ready to fight at any time he desires.” 

''You dare be insolent! You shall pay for this,” 
the officer retorted. "Come with me at once.” 

"Suppose we refuse?” 

"Refuse the king’s command?” incredulously. 

"Why not? He is nothing to us.” 

"Then you will be carried forcibly.” 


96 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


‘‘Not a bad idea. Being carried is better than 
walking. The king rides from place to place, so why 
not we?” 

At a word of command from their leader the soldiers 
seized the two, raised them to their shoulders and 
passed quickly out of the tent. 

An encampment of great size had sprung up on the 
level floor of the valley. It was well laid out. The 
tents were placed in straight rows with wide streets 
between them, and there seemed to be armed guards 
and soldiers everywhere. 

The Inca’s quarters, covering a large plot of ground, 
were easily distinguishable on account of the briUiantly 
colored tapestries that adorned the sides of the tents. 
In the rear was a spacious courtyard, and it was there 
that the monarch awaited them, sitting in a raised 
chair covered with a silky brown vicuna robe. His 
nobles and amautas, or wise men, formed groups on 
each side. In front was a double row of soldiers with 
spears held in a horizontal position, the points outward, 
similar to the '*on guard” position of bayonet drill. 

The prisoners were brought close to the rows of 
spear-points and unceremoniously deposited on the 
ground. Quizquiz cast one scornful, trimnphant glance 
in their direction, but without one word to them 
turned and addressed the officials at his sides. 


SONCCO’S SHREWDNESS 


97 


“Many, many months ago, as you are all aware, I, 
Quizquiz the Great, commanded you, my abject ser- 
vants to devise the means of punishment for these 
two creatures from the outer world upon their return 
to my kingdom, for my unfailing wisdom told me that 
they should one day return to complete the plunder of 
my treasure. They are here; they are in my hands. 
I am impatient to mete out to them their justly de- 
served fate. But the modes of execution that have 
been placed before me are too mild, too lenient; they 
must be more severe, more terrible, and death must 
come only after a period of lingering horror and fear of 
a very apparent end. You have not justified my con- 
fidence in your intelligence. If you have not the 
knowledge to better serve me, I would be well rid of 
your presence also. Therefore, I have selected twelve 
of the highest in rank from among you, and do hereby 
command you to appear before me to-morrow to make 
known to me the method of punishment you have de- 
vised. But,’’ and he slowly turned his head to look 
first at one, then the other of the groups of silent 
ofiicials, “in order that I may not be further annoyed 
with your stupidity, I shall cause to be inflicted upon 
each one of you the mode of torture he prepares for 
the prisoners, if I deem it too mild for them. Villac 
Umu, High Priest of the Temple of the Sun, will now 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


announce the names of the twelve whom it has been 
my pleasure to honor. Proceed, good Villac!” 

The throng stood in awe, while Villac Umu walked 
ceremoniously to the front and, first kneeling, kissed 
both the sovereign’s feet with a show of great humility. 
Then the high priest took up his position at one side 
of the king. Aged men inclined their heads forward 
and pushed back their snowy locks with trembling 
hands to hear the better; others looked stolid or in- 
different, while in the eyes of not a few appeared a 
gleam of resentment and defiance. 

The high priest, in a loud and officious voice, called 
a dozen names in rapid succession, and finished by 
admonishing the chosen ones to think well before they 
spoke or they should pay dearly for their haste. After 
bestowing a look of approval on Villac Umu, the Inca 
was carried into his apartments, which was the sign of 
dismissal for the assembly. 

Not a word was spoken by any one as the crowd 
dispersed. A pall had fallen over all, for the officials 
whose names had been announced were the highest, 
the most respected, and the best beloved in the nation. 
For the twelve it was a virtual sentence; according to 
the terms announced, only one of them had a possi- 
ble chance of escape, and Quizquiz was to be their 
judge. 


SONCCO^S SHREWDNESS 


99 


As Ted and Stanley were being taken back to their 
prison tent, walking this time by preference, they real- 
ized that Quizquiz had had some deep, ulterior motive 
when he called the assembly. It was but a flimsy way 
of finding an excuse to rid himself of the most popular 
of his officials. He envied them their knowledge and 
ability and the just esteem in which they were held by 
the populace. But even he, powerful as he was, did 
not dare condemn them without some pretext to his 
people. And, judging by the saddened looks of the 
imfortunate ones, they, too, understood his true mo- 
tives. However, so accustomed were they to obeying 
without question the mandates of their ruler, that ap- 
parently they would rather suffer death than question 
an action of a Child of the Sun. 

Quizquiz was indeed developing all the unjust, ty- 
rannical, and evil tendencies of which he had shown 
symptoms in his youth. Added to these was his colos- 
sal conceit. If he continued to govern his people in 
his present manner he must, before long, succeed in 
destroying all the sacred traditions of the nation, and 
the nation itself, unless there should be a revolution 
against his despotism. 

That night Ted and Stanley had a visitor. They 
could not see his face in the darkness, but they knew 
that he must be a person of distinction, for at his word 


100 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


of command the guards withdrew to a distance at 
which their footfalls were scarcely audible. 

The curtained end of the shelter parted, and a 
stooped figure entered hastily. That much but no 
more they could see in the semi-darkness. 

am Soncco,^^ a tremulous voice announced with- 
out ceremony. ^^Do you not remember me? I was 
one of the two amautas who instructed you in prep- 
aration for your position as princes when you were 
here before. You cannot see my face, and a light is 
forbidden you, but do you not remember my voice 
The two feared some new trap, so were on the alert. 
‘Hf you are Soncco, give some proof of the fact,^* 
Ted demanded. 

can soon prove that I am no other. If you will 
but recall, one day when your fare was reduced to 
almost nothing, you complained to me about it. I 
told you that others, including Quizquiz, son of the 
Inca, were undergoing the same ordeal. You replied 
that ‘if the others can do it we can.^ Those words 
impressed me. I admired your courage and nobleness 
of spirit, and I felt that the nation would be honored 
in admitting you to the lofty station you were about 
to occupy. I was more sad than I can express when 
the council condemned you, for I knew in my heart 
that you were guiltless of any intention of doing 


SONCCO^S SHREWDNESS 


101 


wrong. Men of your character could not commit trea- 
son against the good Huayna Capac, who had been so 
generous to you. And now I regret that your punish- 
ment must be so terrible, for I feel that again you are 
innocent of evil intentions against us.’^ 

^‘We thank you, Soncco, and assure you that your 
confidence is not misplaced. We did not intend to 
visit this place again. An accident brought us here. 
We had no choice in the matter. We would have 
given anything to have avoided it. But why talk of 
it? When we were here before you taught us how to 
live; now you have come to instruct us how to face the 
ordeal that is being prepared for us ! Am I right 
^‘No. This time I seek your advice. Tell me how 
I may meet my fate.^^ 

'^You, Soncco? What makes you talk like that?^^ 
Because I am compelled to. Was not my name 
called to-day by Villac Umu, High Priest of the Tem- 
ple of the Sun? It means that I and all the other 
luckless ones must perish by the means we suggest for 
your punishment, for Quizquiz will heed none of us. 
It is merely a pretext for getting rid of those of us 
who have won his disfavor.’’ 

‘^We thought the same thing. And while Quizquiz 
is bad enough, there is another who is infinitely worse; 
that one is Villac Umu, who is the real ruler. You 


102 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


know that as well as we do. Then why do you meekly 
submit, like a flock of brainless llamas? Why not be 
men and fight for your rights and your lives 

'^Quizquiz is king. The Inca always has been 
looked upon as a holy being. In all the history of the 
nation none has ever resisted him because he is a 
Child of the Sun, and no one dares question his actions 
now. He cannot do wrong. If his will seems unjust 
to us it is only because we lack the wisdom to see the 
higher aims that are clear to him. We are as nothing 
compared to his magnificence.’^ 

“Soncco, it is hard to believe that you really think 
that. You seem to be a man of intelligence, but if 
you are really in earnest it is time you knew better. 
The Inca is a person like any one else, and is great 
only because the people make him so. Strip him of 
his crown, his jewels, and his finery, and he would look 
exactly like any other human being. Dress him in 
the rags of a menial, and he would not even be recog- 
nized in the street. He eats, drinks, and sleeps just 
as we do; he is a king because the people are ignorant 
enough to want some one to worship and to bow to,” 
Stanley said. 

^Hf you were to choose your own mode of punish- 
ment, what would it be?” Soncco evaded. 

‘T understand now why he came,” Stanley whis- 


SONCCO’S SHREWDNESS 


103 


pered to Ted. “He knows we should pick out some- 
thing easy, so he figures on getting off easily himself, 
for he is to receive what he proposes for us. Let’s 
humor him. Who knows what it may lead to ?” Then 
to Soncco: “Nothing could be more terrible than to 
keep us in the valley the rest of our natural fives and 
to do everything possible to make us five a long, long 
time. We should be given full liberty, of course, to 
come and go as we please, and should five in state, 
like princes. But still we should be prisoners of the 
Inca.” 

Soncco appeared to be surprised. 

“What would be so terrible about that?” he asked. 

“Just think of it, prisoners in this small place, when 
we have been accustomed to the outer world. We 
long to travel its vast lands, its great rivers, and the 
mighty oceans. We have even conquered the air and 
can fly from place to place like the birds. Here we 
are far from home and all those we hold dear; we 
should never see them again, nor would they know 
what had befallen us. What could be more horrible?” 

“I understand now,” Soncco replied with enthusi- 
asm. “You speak wisely. I shall suggest it at the 
meeting to-morrow, and I can only hope that my 
words will be heeded. And now I must go. Good 
night, my friends.” 


104 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


As he stole away they heard him mutter to himself : 
am afraid Quizquiz will never let them off so easily, 
for they might escape; but, at any rate, he can do 
nothing worse to me, for if he refuses the request for 
them he will be compelled to grant it to me. I am 
safe. And the proposition offers the one chance 

They could hear no more, for he had passed into 
the night. Soon the guards were back at their posts 
and the steady tramp of their feet was the last sound 
the two heard before falling into a fitful sleep. 


CHAPTER X 

THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 

After a few hours Stanley awoke with a start. 
The seriousness of their position made lengthy or 
restful sleep impossible. As he lay thinking of their 
plight and raking his brain for some meanfe by which 
its outcome could be averted, he heard a sigh from 
Ted. 

^‘Are you awake he whispered. 

“Yes. I have given up trying to sleep. I am 
thinking of to-morrow and what it may bring. For 
once I wish the night would last forever.’’ 

“I have made up my mind. I am not going to 
stay here longer waiting for them to drag me away ” 

“That’s just the way I feel. Suppose we try to 
get away. It seems hopeless, but we can try. The 
guards may be overconfident or drowsy. And, any- 
way, whatever they would do to us if they caught us 
would be quicker than the plan Quizquiz is preparing.” 

“Then let’s go. Try to get hold of a weapon of 

some kind; perhaps the guards have stacked their 
105 


106 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


arms, or we might be able to overpower one of them. 
A knife, a spear, anything will help if we have to fight 
our way through. 

Apparently the watch was being changed, for they 
had not heard the footfalls of the sentinels for several 
minutes. 

Cautiously stealing out of the tent, they listened for 
a moment; then they began to crawl in the direction of 
the river. If they could gain its banks they would 
brave the current in an attempt to reach Uti, beyond 
the wall, and once there the numberless caves offered 
places of at least temporary security against any horde 
of besiegers. 

When they had crawled a distance of twenty yards 
they heard the sound of approaching footsteps; they 
stopped and flattened themselves to the ground. Four 
sentries passed between them and the end of their 
tent. 

Ted touched Stanley lightly on the shoulder. ^‘We 
are through the line,’^ he whispered. Again they re- 
sumed their stealthy advance. From out of the black- 
ness ahead of them came the murmur of flowing water; 
it must be the river. 

And then, without warning, a loud clangor broke 
upon their startled ears; it seemed to come from all 
around them at the same time, and bewildered them 


THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 107 


by its suddenness. Before they fully realized what 
had happened, a dozen soldiers with flaming torches 
came running from various directions, shouting as 
they ran. The two sprang to their feet and started 
away as fast as they could, but other guards headed 
them off and, tripping them, pinned them to the 
ground. Before long they had been taken back to 
their tents, bruised from the rough treatment they had 
received, but leaving several of the soldiers sprawled 
on the ground from the mauling they had given in 
return. 

^^We travel in circles,^^ Stanley panted. ^'Here we 
are, back again in the place we started from. But 
that was a clever plan of theirs; we have to give them 
credit for that. And we fell for it like a couple of 
chumps.’’ 

‘‘What caused all the racket?” Ted, too, was 
breathing hard. “I don’t know yet what happened, 
unless some one saw us and gave the alarm.” 

“Nothing of the kind. We gave the alarm our- 
selves, or at least I did. The place is surrounded 
with a rope fence with bells attached to it. I was all 
tangled up in it.” 

“Well,” Ted tried to console his companion, at the 
same time paying him a graceful compliment, “you 
could not help it. You got into it only because you 


108 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


were in the lead; if I had been first I should have done 
the same thing.’’ 

The end of that night, wretched as it was, came all 
too soon. As day was breaking the journey began to 
the City of Gold, where stood the great Temple of the 
Sun, for it was in the court of this sacred edifice that 
the sentence was to be pronounced. The procession 
was already formed when the prisoners joined it. 
Every one of the numerous host was in his proper 
place in the line that reached far into the distance, 
excepting only a small detachment of soldiers that 
remained behind to look after the encampment. 

Quizquiz truly travelled in all the barbcj-ic splendor 
and luxury at his command. Riding aloft in his 
golden fitter, borne on the shoulders of his uncom- 
plaining nobles, he looked down haughtily upon the 
throng that formed his escort; he even gazed defiantly 
or with a superior air at the snow-capped mountains 
in the distance marking the confines of his empire, as 
if they, too, were subject to his wishes. Occasionally 
he amused himself by striking those nearest him with 
his whip, or in admiring the flashing jewels on his 
fingers and around his neck. 

The march was interrupted frequently while the 
monarch took long draughts of corn beer from golden 
goblets served by the nmnerous attendants. 


THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 109 


Other menials of the retinue carried cages of live 
ducks, doves, and tinamou or mountain partridges, so 
that their sovereign might not want for these highly 
esteemed dehcacies while on the march. Another 
group had charge of the Inca^s wardrobe, which was of 
necessity very large, for with the exception of the 
outer mantles he never donned the same garment more 
than once. After having been worn it was discarded 
forever, nor could it be used by any other person after 
having graced the sacred person of the king. It was 
either burned outright or stored in the repositories of 
the palace to be destroyed with much ceremony at 
some future time. 

One incident of the march well illustrated the cruel 
and unfeeling nature of Quizquiz, as well as his entire 
lack of justice or desire to provide for the welfare of 
his people. 

In passing through one of the settlements an elderly 
man rushed out of the crowd and knelt in the street; 
as the royal htter approached he threw himself flat on 
the ground and begged the Inca to grant him an 
audience. 

'^What does this insolent creature want?’’ Quizquiz 
asked in a surly voice of Villac Umu, whose sedan was 
carried directly in back of the king’s. 

Speak!” Villac commanded the man. 


V 


no 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


allotment of land has been taken from me by 
my gracious lord’s governor. I have nothing now and 
am starving,” the aged man pleaded. 

'^Why was it taken?” asked the high priest. 
^'What crime did you commit? Conceal nothing from 
the all-knowing king ! ” 

“No crime. I was not even accused of a crime. 
My plot was more fertile than that of the officer, so 
he envied me and took it away. I beseech you that 
justice be done.” 

Quizquiz flew into a rage. 

“The governor represents me and enforces my laws 
upon an unworthy people. If he desires your land he 
shall have it. What right have you to anything? 
Everything is mine. You have lived many years by 
my grace and by my father’s, yet you complain. Is it 
true that you now have nothing — no place to which 
to go?” 

“It is true, most noble king. I know not where to 
turn.” 

“It is well; throw him into the river !” 

Two soldiers seized the luckless man and hurried 
him away. With a chuckle Quizquiz ordered that the 
march be resumed, while Villac Umu nodded approv- 
ingly. 

Ted and Stanley were enraged at this high-handed 


THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 111 


action on the part of the Inca. Even the meanest of 
his subjects had always retained the right to plead his 
case before the king, according to the law of the 
nation. Huayna Capac had without exception listened 
patiently, caused an investigation to be made, and if 
one of his officials had been guilty of oppression or 
had administered the laws badly he had been severely 
punished. It was obvious that Quizquiz had launched 
forth upon a career of cruelty and extermination that 
would surely lead to his own downfall. 

Arrived at the Golden City, the procession proceeded 
directly to the Temple of the Sun. The soldiers ar- 
ranged themselves to form a hollow square. The 
nobles, priests, and amautas formed groups in the 
centre of it. In front of the massive structure of the 
temple stood a giant tree, its topmost branches reach- 
ing well over a hundred feet above the ground. Trail- 
ing plants that hugged the earth grew at its base; they 
were symbolic of the Inca towering high above his 
lowly, cringing subjects. 

The king’s litter was carried to the very door of the 
temple and placed upon the top of the stone terrace, 
from which a rug-covered runway led into the build- 
ing. A carpet of soft chinchilla skins covered the 
floor of the passage. 

Quizquiz arose, stepped out of his conveyance, and 


112 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


in a haughty, dehberate manner entered the holy 
edifice — alone and unattended. No one dared enter 
the temple while the king was within, lest they dis- 
turb his devotions. 

A loud voice raised in a chant soon came out of the 
open door and reached the ears of the waiting multi- 
tude, which promptly fell upon its knees; supposedly 
Quizquiz was praying to his Sun-God for guidance in 
dealing with his prisoners m a proper manner, but the 
tone and words were of such nature that they were 
obviously calculated to impress his hearers rather than 
any divinity* 

The soldiers, too, were kneeling, with heads bowed 
low. For a moment Ted and Stanley stood alone. 
Not an eye was turned upon them. 

‘^Come Stanley whispered. “This is our chance.’^ 

Closely followed by Ted, he sprang lightly to the 
raised platform, and before the guards knew what had 
occurred the two had disappeared into the gloomy 
building. Knowing that there could be no pursuit, 
they moved slowly and silently through a corridor 
flanked by tall columns of stone, and reached the 
main room, which was the place of worship. 

They saw Quizquiz in the distance, and once again 
they gasped in astonishment. They had fully expected 
that at least in the temple the vainglorious monarch 


THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 113 


would dispense with some of his conceit. But they 
had been mistaken. 

A representation of the sun, emblazoned with gold 
and jewels, covered the entire end wall of the build- 
ing. Instead of kneeling, or at least standing in front 
of it, with outstretched arms, as the ritual prescribed, 
Quizquiz had seated himself on a cushion, with his 
back turned toward the sacred emblem. That ac- 
counted for the fact that his voice could be heard 
so distinctly by the multitude outside. But, most 
profane of all, he held a large metal mirror in his 
hands and admired his own reflection the while he 
prayed. 

So absorbed was he in this fascinating occupation 
that he did not see the two until they had left their 
place of concealment and were close upon him. Hear- 
ing the sound of their footsteps at last, he looked up 
to ascertain their cause. As he beheld the onrushing 
pair a shudder passed over his frame and the mirror 
fell from his hands; his arms froze in midair while a 
look of terror came into his face. Before he could 
recover the two had reached his side. 

''One sound and I will choke the life out of you,’’ 
Stanley threatened in a whisper, at the same time 
grasping him by the throat, while Ted, picking up a 
heavy gold sceptre that lay on the floor, raised it 


114 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


above the startled ruler’s head in a manner that left 
no doubt as to his intentions. 

Quizquiz was too frightened to speak. 

^^You are our prisoner now, understand?” Stanley 
continued. ^^The tables are turned. Now you know 
just how we felt up to a few minutes ago, and you will 
learn other things, too, before we are through with 
you. Not a sound, remember, or it will be the last 
one you ever make.” 

“You dared follow me here?” At last words came 
to the hps of the terrified monarch, but his voice was 
scarcely audible; the thing seemed so impossible to 
him. “Here! in the holy temple — in the presence of 
the Sun-God and of my sacred forefathers ” 

“Shut up!” Stanley commanded, while Ted’s eyes, 
becoming accustomed to the semi-darkness, made out 
a row of mummies seated on gold thrones that lined 
the walls on both sides of them. 

“Take us to one of the inner chambers,” Stanley 
continued, “and we will tell you what to do, but do 
not forget, no treachery, or you know what will hap- 
pen, ” — and he tightened his fingers perceptibly. 

“I am the king; I obey no man’s orders,” Quizquiz 
protested weakly. 

“You were king; now you are our prisoner and you 
will do exactly as we say. Move on !” 


THE PRISONERS CAPTURE THE KING 115 


Without another word the captive led them to a 
small, bare room, with four walls of solid, hewn stone. 
Light was admitted through an opening ten feet above 
their heads. Ted stood guard at the door, while Stan- 
ley pushed Quizquiz to the centre of the floor, still 
retaining his hold on the prisoner's throat. 

In this position they stood for an appreciable length 
of time, looking at one another, the Inca^s wily brain 
busy trying to devise some means of outwitting his 
captors, and the two Americans hoping they could 
gain their end without resort to the violence they had 
promised in the event their demands were refused. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 

Quizquiz was rapidly regaining his self-control and 
haughty reserve. He folded his arms majestically and 
looked at the two who had made him prisoner. 

‘^What do you want?’^ he asked with a sneer. 

‘‘You know without asking. Set us free and permit 
us to return to the outer world. 

“And give you all my gold to take with you. Is 
that all?’^ 

“We do not want your gold. We told you that 
before.” 

“If I should grant that request you should soon 
return with some new and more powerful contrivance 
to rob me. And others would come with you to make 
sure of it. I know your thoughts. Gold, gold, gold ! 
That is all the white men think of and they stop at 
nothing to get it. The history of my people proves it.” 

“We are not going to argue. If you donT grant 

our request at once ” Stanley’s fingers again 

tightened, while Ted advanced with the heavy rod. 

“It shall be as you say. Now I shall go.” 

116 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 117 


^‘No, you will stay. We are not fools. What assur- 
ance have we that you will keep your promise?^’ 

‘^The word of a king.” 

‘^That means nothing to us. We must have some- 
thing more substantial than that, something more 
rehable.” 

will make a solemn oath in the presence of my 
ancestors. There is nothing more binding in the laws 
and rites of the nation. No one could break a promise 
so given and live.” 

‘^Then swear, and after you have taken the oath 
we will tell you what to add to it; and you will talk 
loud enough so that the people outside can under- 
stand every word you say. Make it clear that we 
are free to leave the valley, and that you will help us 
in every way to do so; that if you fail to keep your 
promise, you will forfeit your throne and submit to 
the vilest treatment any mortal ever received in the 
valley; admit that your action toward us was unjus- 
tified, and apologize for it. Also, as a sign of good 
faith, tell the truth about Villac Umu, and command 
the soldiers to arrest him at once and throw him into 
the river — this to be done before we let you out of 
the temple; appoint Soncco to take his place. When 
you have said all this, we will dictate the rest of your 
speech.” 


118 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Quizquiz appeared startled, but soon the old manner 
returned. 

‘'But not here,^’ he protested. “The people could 
not hear me, and to make the oath binding it must 
be made in the sanctuary before the image of the 
Sim-God, and where the bodies of my dead and glori- 
ous ancestors repose.^^ 

“Then come at once. And be sure that you attempt 
no trickery. One suspicious move and you will never 
see the daylight again.’' 

They quickly retraced their steps, holding the Inca 
between them, to the main hall of the building. It 
was damp and gloomy. The rows of dead seemed 
waiting in silent expectancy; each was seated on his 
golden throne in a niche in the wall. Their heads were 
inclined forward, as if in a listening attitude, and their 
hands, adorned with many jewels, were crossed on 
their breasts. The crimson fringe adorned the royal 
heads, and the attire was of the richest. Most of them 
had long, white hair, indicating that they had attained 
a ripe age. Obviously they had been embalmed by 
some secret process, and were in such a splendid state 
of preservation that they seemed more asleep than 
dead. 

“This place is holy and you have desecrated it by 
your presence,” Quizquiz hissed as they reached a 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 119 


stone sacrificial altar which stood in the centre of the 
floor. ^^You have insulted me, the king, have laid 
your hands on my sacred person, have gazed upon the 

venerable dead, and ” 

'^And we will do one other thing — ^you know what 
it is — if you don’t hurry and do what we told you to. 
Now take your oath; turn around so every one can 
hear you, then repeat what we said.” 

^'Release me so I can kneel!” 

Stanley relaxed his hold and the Inca knelt close 
to the altar. Raising both hands he began in a solemn 
voice: ‘Hn this holy temple, in the presence of my 
forefathers now resting in the glory of the sun, I, 

Quizquiz, king, swear that ” 

At the same moment Stanley noticed a movement 
in the altar wall. A panel was sliding noiselessly to 
one side. He made a quick lunge for Quizquiz, and 
Ted struck with the heavy staff just as the Inca dived 
headlong into the dark opening that had been re- 
vealed under the stones. The door sprang back in- 
stantly and from beyond it a mocking voice continued 
in triumph: ^^Your punishment will be a thousand 
times more terrible because of this. You shall see!” 

The two stared at one another in blank amazement. 
It had happened so quickly that it was over before 
they were fully aware of what was taking place. They 


120 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


pushed and tugged at the panel, but it resisted their 
efforts. 

In kneeling to pray, Quizquiz had pressed a secret 
mechanism that operated the sliding front of the altar. 
And he had made good his escape. He had out- 
generalled them just as it had seemed certain that 
their release and departure from the valley was as- 
sured. The blow stunned them. 

^^He’s gone for good,’’ Stanley panted. ^‘It’s all 
over with us now.” 

‘‘Why didn’t we fix him while we had him? Why 
didn’t we at least tie his hands and feet? We might 
have known what to expect. Listen !” 

A loud shout from without rent the air. The Inca 
had reappeared and the people acclaimed him with 
loud applause. Suddenly the noise stopped; some one 
was speaking. Scarcely knowing what they did the 
two crept forward to listen. The voice was Villac 
Umu’s: 

“Our holy and adored sovereign, having finished his 
devotions in the temple, now commands that we, his 
unworthy slaves, proceed with our declarations. Tu- 
pichi, commander of the army, advance, kiss the 
king’s feet with reverence, and speak. But hold! 
First I must again remind you of the responsibility 
attached to the honor bestowed upon you by the 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 121 


king, for each high honor, like each exalted position, 
carries with it the heavy burden of rendering worthy 
account of the opportunities it affords. Therefore, 
should your proposal displease our generous and be- 
loved ruler, you must suffer the fate you suggested 
for the prisoners.^’ 

Tupichi came forward as he was bidden, knelt 
hmnbly, and kissed the Inca^s feet. After a slight 
pause, lengthened by the silence of the crowd, his 
tremulous voice could be heard. 

“If it pleases the king, let them be stoned to death, 
he said meekly. 

“You have the courage to insult me thus?^’ It was 
Quizquiz who replied. “That penalty is inflicted on 
petty thieves and like offenders, not on persons like 
these. The army shall have a new leader; for you, 
Tupichi, shall be stoned.^^ 

“Huascar, advance and let our ears drink in the 
thoughts that have been conjured by your fertile 
brain, Villac Umu commanded in a croaking voice. 
Again the silence of expectancy pervaded the air. 

“My unworthy proposal is that the prisoners be 
boiled in a caldron of oil,^^ he said simply. 

“Your proposal is unworthy indeed. It blasphemes 
my ears. If you, Huascar, can think of nothing better 
than that, you do not deserve to be permitted to live. 


122 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Space in the vaUey is limited and far too valuable to 
be occupied by such as you. Boiling in oil will be a 
fitting reward for your stupidity, and so it shall be.’^ 

‘^Let Toparca now be heard, the high priest then 
announced. 

‘^Glorious one, who has honored me with this rare 
distinction, blind them with the point of a red-hot 
spear, Toparca ventured. ^‘Then set them free on 
the rugged peaks flanking one of the many craters, so 
that they will fall into the lake of fire that seethes and 
roars at the bottom.*^ 

‘^Come, come!” Quizquiz scolded impatiently. 
'^You chatter like a monkey, or like a parrot that 
lacks the power to think. Words that mean nothing 
proclaim a brain that has lost its usefulness. You 
have pronounced your own sentence.” 

Speak Zaron! It is your turn.” 

' would hold them prisoner until the next exer- 
cises, then set them up as targets and let the youths 
of the nation try their skill at them with bows and 
arrows, or, if the king prefers, with spears and daggers. 
A hving mark is more interesting to shoot at than 
some lifeless object.” 

“You will be a more fitting target than either of 
these, Zaron, but I doubt not that the density of your 
head will dull the arrows and turn them aside,” Quiz- 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 123 


quiz retorted with a chuckle, in which he was joined 
by Villac Umu. 

And so they proceeded. Each one of the luckless 
twelve was ordered to state his proposition, and the 
offering of each was spurned, often with sarcasm and 
ridicule. So each in turn was sentenced to the same 
punishment he had contrived to plan for the captives. 
Only one remained to be heard. 

'^Soncco, speak quickly; I am fatigued with all this 
stupidity, Quizquiz continued impatiently after di- 
recting a number of cutting shafts at Chapas, eleventh 
on the list. “Surely you possess wisdom, or at least 
so you have pretended. I have trusted you with im- 
portant missions in the past, and I trust you still or 
I should not consent to hsten longer to this idle 
gossip.^’ 

“Great and holy king,’’ Soncco began gravely, 
“besides whose splendor even the sun pales to the 
dimness of a menial’s grease-lamp, I am flattered by 
this praise and confidence, which is undeserved. To 
serve my revered sovereign is my only wish; to die 
for him would be my greatest joy. I have evolved a 
plan that is as striking as it is different from all the 
others that have been proffered. Therefore I beg of 
my beloved master that he will condescend to listen 
with patience while ” 


/ 


124 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


you think to flatter me, Soncco, I must tell you 
that your words are falling on deaf ears. What mere 
mortal can proclaim my glory ? I am above the praise 
that any tongue can speak, Quizquiz interrupted 
haughtily. 

^^Keep the two strangers in the valley until they 
die of old age. Let them go where they will, and feed 
them well so that they may live all the longer — and 
provide rich apartments for them, with servants and 
all the comforts of life. As your prisoners they will 
give perpetual testimony of the power and greatness 
of the king who is capable of holding them against their 
will. That is my humble plan, offered in deepest 
humility.^’ 

“It must be that Soncco does not understand. A 
reward is not wanted for these intruders, but a penalty 
of the most terrible nature,^’ Villac XJmu said in 
consternation. 

“It is the high priest who fails to understand,^' 
Soncco replied in a steady voice, while the crowd 
craned their necks so as not to lose a word. “WHiat 
punishment could be more horrible than to keep the 
two here as prisoners all their lives, far removed from 
their homes and friends? The valley is a small place 
compared to the vast lands, rivers, and oceans of the 
outer world that they have been accustomed to trav- 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 125 


erse. They are masters of the air as well. An ant 
confined within the pod of a bean would have a thou- 
sand times more liberty than they.^^ 

Quizquiz looked incredulous. For a short while he 
looked intently at Soncco, as if trying to read his inner- 
most thoughts. Then a look of understanding came 
into his face. 

have heard your words, Soncco, and I appreciate 
the motive that inspired them. Instead of obeying 
my command to contrive a method of punishment for 
the prispners, you have thought only to save yourself. 
One inspired by motives less lofty and less generous 
than mine would see in your act disloyalty, even 
treason, and would deal with you accordingly. But 
have no fear; your life shall be spared, for I have need 
of you. I hereby designate you to carry out the sen- 
tences imposed upon themselves by your eleven com- 
panions, and remember, Tupichi, your brother, is 
among them. Even though you live, Soncco, you will 
be the one to inflict torture and death on others who 
are dear to you.^’ 

Soncco was stunned at hearing these words. He 
stood as in a trance until Quizquiz waved him aside 
and continued with a note of triumph in his voice: 
the prisoners now be brought out of the temple.” 

Hearing this, Ted and Stanley rushed from the 


126 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


opening in the wall at which they had been listening, 
and fled to one of the smaller rooms where they could 
better defend themselves, for now that the Inca was 
no longer in the building the priests and guards were 
at liberty to enter. They waited, Ted retaining the 
heavy, golden rod in his hands, Stanley holding a long 
knife he had taken from one of the altars; but no one 
came to attack them. Instead, a pungent odor, faint 
and not disagreeable, came to their nostrils; they 
could not tell where it originated. Aside from noting 
the scent which grew constantly stronger and began 
to roll into the room in thin wisps and wreaths of blue 
smoke, they attached no importance to it. Doubtless 
it was caused by burning incense in one of the numer- 
ous sanctuaries; matters of greater import filled their 
minds. 

am choking,^’ Ted suddenly muttered, clutching 
at his throat; tears streamed down his cheeks. “And 
I canT see either. 

Stanley was blindly groping his way toward the 
door. The two were rapidly losing consciousness in 
the suffocating fumes that seemed completely to fill 
the building. As they painfully and aimlessly stum- 
bled through the growing darkness a harsh voice half 
aroused them to their senses. It was the high priest^s. 
At the same time they could make out his form. 


THE COUNSEL OF THE WISE MEN 127 


faintly outlined in the haze, while in back of him were 
other dim figures. 

‘‘Drag them out of the holy place, cried Villac 
Umu, “and take them before the throne of judgment. 

A dozen hands seized them by the shoulders and 
legs and carried them, limp and unconscious, out of 
the temple. 


4 


CHAPTER XII 
THE VILLAINY OF VILLAG UMU 

A FEW breaths of the fresh, outer air restored the 
two prisoners to their senses, although it was some 
time before the stupor caused by the suffocating fumes 
left them entirely; this was followed by severe spells 
of coughing and a choking sensation. They asked for 
water but none was given them. 

If Quizquiz had looked upon them before with a 
triumphant gleam in his eyes, he now regarded them 
with utter disdain. An insect or a reptile could not 
have been treated with greater contempt. His lips 
were set. Cruelty and the desire for revepge showed 
in every line of his face. He had suffered what he 
considered an unspeakable indignity; the captives had 
actually dared touch his sacred person, and none too 
gently at that. The temple had been desecrated. It 
was only by sheer luck that he had succeeded in es- 
caping them. In the secret underground passage into 
which he had disappeared he had taken enough time 
to collect his composure and to straighten out his di- 
shevelled clothes and diadem before appearing to the 
128 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 129 


multitude that awaited him. Halting an instant he 
had spoken quickly and in a whisper to Villac Umu, 
whereupon an officer and a squad of soldiers, accom- 
panied by one of the priests, entered the labyrinth of 
galleries that undermined the holy edifice to start the 
smudges. Then, without referring to his experience, 
the Inca calmly seated himself on the throne and pro- 
ceeded with the business for which the assembly had 
been called. As king he owed explanations to no man; 
and, besides, he was in no hiunor to recall or to make 
known to others the humiliation he had suffered. 
However, his scathing remarks to the unfortunate ones 
who were called before him gave evidence to his state 
of mind; the rage that boiled within him found an 
outlet and an antidote in the denunciations and sen- 
tences he hurled at those of his nobles who had been 
chosen to forfeit their lives for no other reason than 
that it pleased him that it should be so. 

This gruesome work finished, the high priest followed 
the soldiers into the temple and soon returned with 
the captives. For Quizquiz that was the supreme 
moment. 

am the most luckless of kings,’’ he began, feign- 
ing deep sorrow and unclasping his hands in despair, 
‘Tor when it is my pleasure to call upon the members 
of my court for advice or assistance, even the highest 


130 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


fail me miserably. What have I done to deserve such 
punishment? Slaves all, you do not deserve to have 
a king to rule and to protect you; better by far that I 
return to the glory of the Sun, whence I came, and 
leave you to perish miserably without my wise gui- 
dance than remain among you. Is there not a single 
man of intelligence in my whole nation?” 

This was no doubt the cue for the high priest. It 
was inconceivable that the plan had not been pre- 
arranged, and judging by the looks of several in the 
crowd, Ted and Stanley were not the only ones to 
see through the wily monarch’s tactics. 

Villac Umu came forward and bowed low, too low 
in fact for entire sincerity. ^‘Beloved ruler,” he 
smirked, '^do not desert us; tarry a moment longer, 
I beseech you on bended knees. If you will lend your 
most gracious ears to my unworthy words, I ” 

^^By all means, good Villac Umu,” Quizquiz said 
indulgently. After listening to the jabbering of these 
ignoble ones my ears long for words of real wisdom, 
such as always flow from your lips.” 

^^I, Villac Umu, high priest of the Temple of the 
Sun though I am, do not deserve the praise of my 
adored sovereign. What man, indeed, hves who is 
worthy of even one glance from those august eyes, or 
one thought from that godlike mind?” 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 131 


“True! But I would have it so. So do not hesi- 
tate to speak freely; that is my pleasure.” 

“In the Temple of the Snakes there are two ser- 
pents of inunense size, with unusual length of fangs, 
and with the dispositions of all the demons combined. 
As I studied them in their golden dens, a thought 
came to me.” 

Quizquiz leaned forward eagerly. 

“You interest me, great Villac. I would hear the 
thought that formed itself in your brain.” 

“Yesterday, Sarrak, keeper of the serpents, was 
struck in the thigh by one of these devils. They 
brought him to me without delay that I might observe 
his writhings, for it was I who ordered him to stroke 
the snake-gods to soothe their tempers. For half an 
hour he suffered all the pains of a lost soul before death 
came. I saw it with my own eyes, and I heard his 
cries of agony; it thrilled me with a strange joy, for 
nothing that I have ever experienced was more mag- 
nificent and at the same time more terrible. Might 
we not rid the valley of these two,” pointing to Ted 
and Stanley, “in the same manner?” 

“You possess the wisdom of a god, Villac Umu. 
You are sublime ! I am more pleased than words can 
express. You may kiss both my feet, nay, even my 
hands, and I will invest you with a chain of emeralds 


132 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


in appreciation of your nobleness of character. You 
will see that I amply reward those who prove them- 
selves worthy of my confidence.” 

The high priest was enraptured. He raised his 
voice to a scream and waved his arms wildly, so that 
his numerous bracelets tinkled like miniature bells. 

‘‘But they shall not die the easy death of Sarrak,” 
he shouted. “Horrible though that was, it is still 
too good for them, and not edifying enough for your 
eyes. So I would have it arranged thus. Chain the 
two prisoners to a wall, their backs to the cold stones; 
and to stakes driven into the ground in front of them 
tie the great serpents — but just a hair^s breadth out of 
reach of their victims. There let them remain, the 
men to gaze in terror into the green eyes of the 
merciless monsters, and the snakes to glare with im- 
patience and increasing rage at the victims who cannot 
escape them. Hour after hour you shall witness this 
glorious spectacle. The heat of the midday sim and 
hunger and thirst will add to the suffering of the cap- 
tives. But hiunan nature can endure only so much, 
and then at last their hmbs will grow numb and sag, 
and they will crumple and fall to the ground. The 
great moment will have arrived; they will be in reach 
of the snakes. You shall see the gleam of white fangs 
and the lightning thrusts of arrow-shaped heads, and 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 133 


hear the cries of the doomed ones. It will be a sight 
for the gods, and — ^your revenge will be complete.’^ 
‘‘But, good Villac,^^ Quizquiz protested mildly and 
hypocritically, “is the venom of these serpents really 
so deadly? May not the white men possess some 
antidote or some magic charm to counteract its effect 
“There is no antidote known to god or man effec- 
tive against the poison of these snakes. Upon that 
point I will stake my life.’^ 

“Now only does my mind feel relieved, and I shall 
sleep again, for at last I have heard words of real 
wisdom. Your description, dear Villac Umu, has 
aroused my interest and curiosity; I can picture the 
grandeur of the spectacle — ^it unfolds itself like a vision 
before my eyes. And the plan shall be carried into 
execution with the least possible delay. To-morrow 
we begin the return journey to the plain beside the 
river. I shall allow two days after our arrival for ^he 
preparations. On the following morning the fes.-.i- 
ties shall begin. Look well to the prisoners — the 
eleven who condemned themselves by their own stu- 
pidity, and these two enemies of the common good, 
who stop at nothing to attain their evil end, not even 
at invading the temple and scoffing at the Sun-God. 

“Quizquiz’^ — Stanley took a step forward, with 
clinched fists and blanched face — “King though you 


134 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


are of a nation of ignorant, cringing people, you are a 
coward at heart, and you know it. What is more im- 
portant still, your subjects know it too, and the day 
is coming when your tyranny and abuse will bring 
them to their senses.* They will cast off their super- 
stitious reverence for you, for they will see in you the 
weakling you are, dominated by a cunning hypocrite 
who calls himself high priest, but who is, in reality, 
lower than the snakes in the temple.’’ 

Speech shall not be denied you,” the Inca mocked. 
“The more you talk the surer I am that your anguish 
has commenced. What next?” 

“Do you not fear our friends in the outer world, 
whose number is greater than the grains of sand in 
the desert? They will avenge our death. You and 
your people will be reduced to slavery and destroyed !” 

“Should other men from the outer world invade 
my kingdom they shall receive the same welcome that 
has been prepared for you. But they will not come. 
Your greed for gold is so great that you kept to your- 
selves the knowledge gained during your previous 
visit here; if others were informed of your secret they 
too would come to share the spoils; so you have told 
no one. I know that.” 

“Our promise to Huayna Capac has been kept, for 
we are men of honor. But a letter has been left be- 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 135 


hind. If we fail to return within a given time, that 
letter will be opened. Others will learn of our where- 
abouts, and how to get here, for we included a map 
and full directions for reaching the valley. Your ex- 
istence will be known. Men in great numbers will 
enter your hiding-place armed with contrivances 
against which you will be powerless. They will an- 
nihilate you, carry away everything of value, and leave 
your cities masses of deserted ruins.^^ 

'^You cannot frighten me. The Sun-God will pro- 
tect his children. He demands vengeance upon you 
particularly because you profaned his temple; he never 
forgets. Perhaps you too have a god? Why not 
appeal to him? Of what use is any god if he will 
not help you?’' 

At this sally Quizquiz and Villac Umu burst into 
loud laughter. Several in the crowd followed their 
example. 

'^Yes,” the high priest seconded, ‘‘call upon your 
god. Tell him to show us what he can do; we shall 
see who is the more powerful, yours or our own.” 

“The sun is not a god at all, if you want to know 
the truth,” Stanley hotly proclaimed. “You might 
as well worship a stick or a stone for all the good it 
would do you. Therefore we could not have possibly 
offended that which does not exist.” 


136 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


blasphemer ! When your backs are chained to the 
cold stones, when the snakes have struck and the 
poison from their fangs is burning in your veins, you 
will think of your words and wish you had left them 
unsaid,’’ Quizquiz hissed. ^^We have proof of the 
sun’s power. We are not blind. Each day as the 
florid tints of dawn light up the eastern sky we are 
reminded anew of his glory and greatness. Without 
his light and warmth the valley would be steeped in 
everlasting gloom, and life could not exist. What 
other evidence do we need? None! Now, perhaps 
you can give some proof of the ” 

'^You ask for proof? All right, you shall have it, 
and of a most convincing nature. You shall see that 
the object of your adoration is as nothing in the hand 
that created it. Then you will believe — ^but it will be 
too late.” 

'‘Does the king wish him to speak more in this ir- 
reverent manner?” Villac Umu asked, seeming ill at 
ease. "May not he be struck dead and thus evade 
our plans of a just punishment?” 

"Let him continue, for his show of suffering 
gives me delight. The more he talks the greater his 
guilt.” 

"On the fourth day from to-day,” said Stanley, 
drawing from his pocket the string with many knots 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 137 


tied in it, ‘^you shall see a miracle, and one not soon 
to be forgotten. You say that the sun gives the light 
and warmth that makes life possible, and even the 
most ignorant of your people know that that is the 
truth. Then you shall experience the despair of seeing 
that light and warmth shut off in the middle of the 
day while it is at its height. Darkness, hke a cloak 
of mourning, will sweep over the valley and blot from 
your sight each familiar thing. In the cold black- 
ness, with the chill gnawing into your bones, you will 
grovel in the dust and raise your voice in lamentations 
and in prayer, but your words will be wasted, for you 
will be powerless to drive away the darkness. All that 
hve will curse Quizquiz and Villac Umu, and rightly 
accuse them of having brought the terrible catastrophe 
upon their heads. 

The Inca grew pale and arose from his cushions. 
^'Tell me, Villac Umu, is such a thing possible? You 
talk with the gods and know their thoughts.’’ 

^Ht is not possible or I should have been informed 
of it,” the priest assured him, although he too was 
perturbed. ‘‘How could such a thing come about? 
I assure you there is no god but the sun, and he always 
protects his child, the Inca, and his people.” 

Evidently Stanley was thinking fast, while Ted, 
dazed at his companion’s rash predictions, gazed at 


138 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


him wide-eyed, not knowing what to make of the 
situation. 

‘^And then,’^ Stanley continued, pointing straight 
at the Inca, while the darkness is heaviest, you shall 
have proof of other strange powers of which you know 
nothing, for in spite of your good opinion of yourself, 
you have the mind of a child. From out of the black- 
ness will come a roar mightier than the loudest thun- 
der, and more penetrating than the rumble of the 
volcanoes all around you. The ground under your 
feet will tremble, and even the stones in the great wall 
will hurl themselves into the air and fall with a crash. 
The barrier between Uti and the valley that has stood 
for hundreds of years shall no longer exist; and that 
will serve as an invitation to the evil spirits who slum- 
ber there to come back to life to complete the work 
of destruction. Quizquiz, the days of your glory are 
no more than the niunber of fingers on one of your 
hands.’’ 

“I will listen to no more,” Quizquiz screamed, clap- 
ping his hands over his ears. 'T should not have 
listened to anything at all.” 

“Nor I,” wailed Villac Umu. “Take them away. 
To-morrow we start on the journey. The sentence 
must be carried out. Let there be no delay!” 

“Poor Stanley,” Ted thought sadly as the guards 


THE VILLAINY OF VILLAC UMU 139 


seized them and hurried them away to the place 
of confinement, *^his mind has snapped. He is 
as crazy as a loon. I wonder how much longer I can 
stand it.^^ 


CHAPTER XIII 


STANLEY’S PLAN 

Stanley could hardly await the time when he could 
reveal his scheme to Ted. The opportunity came as 
they were being led away from the meeting by the 
guards. 

'^What do you think of it? Maybe I didn’t start 
something. They are all excited and scared to death, 
and will be more so, too, before the thing is over. 
Why don’t you say something? I need a lot of en- 
couragement to put the thing through. You will 
have to help me,” he exclaimed enthusiastically. 

'^I am sorry,” Ted returned sadly. ‘^Try to keep 
as calm as you can and do not think of the future. 
It will be over soon.” 

^^Not think of it? Why, I can think of nothing 
else. It will be great. Quizquiz will get the surprise 
of his life, and his people will wake up with a start. 
There will be no stopping them when they see what 
happens.” 

^^Yes, and think of how we will feel about that 
time,” Ted thought, but said nothing. 

“What is the matter, anyway?” Stanley demanded, 

losing patience. “Do you think I am joking?” 

140 


STANLEY'S PLAN 


141 


Joking, no! There is nothing humorous in our 
situation. If you want to know the truth, it strikes 
me you are just a httle upset, that is all. But no one 
could blame you for that. This whole thing is enough 
to ’’ 

thought so from the way you acted, and I was 
beginning to wonder if you were not showing the 
effects of it too. I was never more in earnest nor 
saner in my life. Just fix that firmly in your 
head.’’ 

‘^You think we have a chance?” 

am making one. And I would be absolutely sure 
of the result if it were not for two things. First, we 
must get Soncco to help us; I believe he will because 
we saved his neck, and he does not relish the job that 
has been assigned to him — that of chief executioner 
of his fellow teachers. Second, my calculations as to 
the day of the month must be correct; on that point 
I am not quite sure, but I feel that I am right. I was 
careful to tie a knot in the string each morning so far 
as I can remember. But it is possible that I may 
have forgotten it once, and that would throw off all 
my calculations.” 

'^But what is your scheme? The predictions you 
made are so wild and impossible it would take a 
miracle to fulfil them.” 


142 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Nothing of the kind. It can and it will all happen 
exactly as I said. It sounds impossible .so long only 
as they are ignorant of the things that could cause 
such happenings.^’ 

By this time they had reached the building in which 
they were to be confined for the night. 

‘^I will tell you the rest when they leave us alone,” 
Stanley added. ^Ht will take some time to explain 
the plan fully.” 

Much to their disgust they found that they were not 
to be imprisoned in the same enclosure. Ted, with a 
score of guards, was left in one small, dungeon-like 
room, while Stanley was taken to another on the op- 
posite part of a courtyard. The officers obviously sus- 
pected that another plot to escape might be formed 
if the two were left together. Henceforth they would 
forestall such a move by keeping them apart, or at 
least so it seemed to the captives. That was indeed 
discouraging, for Stanley could not possibly carry out 
his plan without Ted’s help. 

The distance between the two prison cells was too 
great to enable them to carry on a conversation even 
by shouting, so they tried wigwagging signals across 
the open space. But the guards immediately under- 
stood their design, and drew rush mats across the 
doorways. 


STANLEY'S PLAN 


143 


On the return journey to the plain, however, 
they were again thrown together, much to their 
delight. 

^^Tell me quick, before they separate us,^^ Ted 
begged. couldn’t sleep a wink last night for 
thinking over what you said; but I can’t figure it 
out.” 

Listen! Do you remember that before we left 
home the papers were full of stories about the eclipse 
of the sun that is to occur this month?” 

“Yes, I remember that. We talked about it at the 
time. But it was to be partial only.” 

“Partial at home, but complete in parts of South 
America. It depends on where you are looking from. 
The black bands on the maps illustrating the articles 
extended right across this part of Peru. So you see 
what is going to happen, and that I haven’t exagger- 
ated.” 

“I have to hand it to you, Stanley, for remembering 
the event, and making such good use of it. It will 
seem like the most powerful kind of magic to these 
Indians, and will terrify them. They will think we 
are responsible for it and will respect us after that. 
Then it will be our turn to have the upper hand.” 

“The only thing that worries me,” said Stanley 
with concern, “is that I may have made a mistake 


144 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


in keeping track of the time. If I am off one single 
day, the eclipse might as well never come, so far as 
we care.^^ 

“Do you feel that you have made a mistake, or 
not?’^ Ted asked bluntly. 

One look into the serious, apprehensive face of his 
companion and Stanley felt that he could not dash all 
his hopes to the ground by telling him of the fear that 
had gradually loomed up to dispel the hopes of the 
previous day. For the more he thought of the matter 
the more certain he was that not only had he tied 
too few knots in the string, but that the echpse was 
not due until the following month. 

“You shall see,” he said evasively. “Look, here 
comes Soncco now. He looks troubled. We must 
have an interview with him where none can hear. 
That is the first step, and it has got to be arranged 
somehow.” 

As a matter of fact, Soncco was looking for them. 
He was the picture of misery; years had been added 
to his age overnight. 

“The king did not see fit to accept my suggestion,” 
he said slowly. “I have escaped death only to be 
condemned to a worse fate.” 

“ It looks bad for all of us,” Ted returned. 

“I did all I could,” the aged amauta whispered. 


STANLEY'S PLAN 


145 


'^Alas! that I should live to see such days. By the 
king’s command I am forced to become a killer — of my 
own relatives and fellow teachers. I can neither eat, 
drink, nor sleep. Still, the will of my sovereign must 
be obeyed.” 

'^Soncco, you have charge of the prisoners. Is not 
that true?” 

^^Yes; I am the jailer.” 

^^Then arrange that my companion and I remain 
together hereafter. You can do that.” 

can do that, but I will not. You would think up 
another plan for escaping; but you might as well save 
yourselves the trouble.” 

^^On our honor, we shall not attempt to escape, 
and you know we are men of our word. One more 
thing : come to our place of confinement to-night. We 
have something of great interest to say to you.” 

“Say it now. Why wait until to-night?” 

“There is not time. Besides, we are being watched. 
Come to-night just after dark, and you will learn some- 
thing worth your while.” 

“It shall be as you say. But remember, the guard 
will be tripled — so as to form a solid wall around you. 
Attempt no treachery or you will regret it.” 

With that the amauta went his way. 

“Do you think he will come?” Ted asked. 


146 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


hope so. We helped him out once and he be- 
lieves we may do it again/ ^ Stanley replied. 

Soncco kept his promise and arrived shortly after 
nightfall had come upon the valley. His face bore a 
tragic expression and his voice trembled. They had 
never seen him so agitated. 

Speak quickly, for I have not long to stay,’’ he 
faltered. ‘‘There are many things on my mind.” 

“Soncco,” said Stanley slowly, looking straight at 
the aged man, “the task for which you have been 
selected does not suit you. I can tell that by your 
appearance and your actions. You are worried to 
death.” 

“But I will obey the Inca’s command.” 

‘You do not want to kill your own relatives and 
friends, do you?” 

“The king’s commands must not be questioned.” 

“Of course not. And we are not asking you to 
disobey your king in even the smallest matter. But 
you will admit that Quizquiz is not the kind of king 
his father was. He is cruel and bloodthirsty. You 
know the history of the nation back to its very be- 
ginning. Was there ever another such ruler — one 
who wantonly destroyed his highest nobles as well 
as his common people for the mere pleasure it gave 
him?” 


STANLEY'S PLAN 


147 


^^No, there was not. The Incas were all filled with 
solicitude for their subjects. They were all kind and 
benevolent and just; that is why they were so great 
and why the people venerated them.’^ 

thought so. And if Quizquiz keeps on at the 
rate he is going, he will break down and destroy all 
that the others before him have built up at such 
enormous cost and sacrifice. And that will mean the 
end of the hidden people, the last remnant of the once 
powerful and glorious nation. Those who survive will 
be like your brethren in the outer world, downtrodden, 
miserable, and without hope.’’ 

‘^Quizquiz is young, and he is under the spell of an 
evil influence.” 

‘^Yes, Villac Umu. We must get rid of him by all 
means. And we must save the nation. We want 
you to help us help you to do these things.” 

will not be a traitor to the Child of the Sun; I 
will not even consider such a thing.” 

“No one is asking you to do that. In helping us 
you will be doing a favor to all the people. This may 
sound strange to you, and we do not expect you to 
understand because you are accustomed to look at 
things differently than we do. But we simply want 
to prove to you the thing you refuse to admit — that 
the Child of the Sun is very human; that he makes 


148 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


mistakes and can be good or wicked like any one else; 
and that he must be taught a lesson that will bring 
him to his senses. Even your Sun-God is subject to 
a higher power. Do not take my word for it. You 
shall have the proof. Wait and see.’^ 

Soncco was in despair. An expression of helpless- 
ness spread over his face. 

‘^The person of the Inca always has been considered 
holy, and it cannot be violated now,’^ he wailed. ‘^I 
ought not to listen to your words, for they are blas- 
phemy. I should not have come here at all. And 
I should not have stayed on and on after I got here, 

were it not for one fact ” 

‘^That you know I am speaking the truth,^^ Stanley 
interrupted. “The truth is painful as often as not, 
but it is best to listen while there is time. If you 
delay you will be lost.” 

Soncco was showing signs of weakening. 

“The people are grinnbling,” he admitted reluc- 
tantly. “If the oppression and tyranny continue, 
there will be an uprising — the first in the history of the 
nation. We have suffered misfortune enough already 
without having a new calamity thrust upon us.” 

“Now you are talking sensibly. We are offering 
you the opportunity to prevent all this trouble and 
bloodshed you justly despise. Will you take advan- 
tage of it? Will you trust us and let us help you?” 


STANLEY’S PLAN 


149 


‘^How can I accomplish the impossible? What 
can I do? I am old and my power has been taken 
from me. Indeed, I am now no more than an execu- 
tioner, hated by all men.” 

^^You can do more than you think possible. Are 
you acquainted with the country beyond the wall — I 
mean Uti?” 

‘‘Uti, yes. Only sixteen changes of the moon ago 
I accompanied an exploring party there much against 
my will. It is a terrible place with death staring one 
in the face at every step.” 

^^Then you know the caves in the mountainsides?” 

^^Each one of them. We searched them all. It 
was like a hideous nightmare. In some were the re- 
mains of men, rows upon rows of them. In others we 
found the bones of monstrous beasts or demons that 
invaded the valley many years ago and killed the 
people by hundreds. It was to keep them out of the 
valley that the wall was built.” 

^^Good! You know the place well. Now listen 
carefully.” 

Stanley then minutely described the cave where the 
dynamite had been hidden when they had first landed, 
several weeks before, and after they had discovered 
that the gold had been removed from the cave in which 
it had been hidden. 

Bring those boxes to me,” Stanley concluded. 


150 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


*‘That is all for the present. No one will suspect any- 
thing. As master of ceremonies you have a perfect 
right to come and go as you please, and make any 
preparations you like.^^ 

It took a good deal of persuasion, but Soncco finally 
consented to make the trip to Uti for the boxes. He 
had reached the point where he would do almost 
anything rather than carry out his part of the fiend- 
ish plot set for two days hence. 

“I will do this one thing, he said, ‘^but no other; 
so spare yourselves the trouble of making any more 
requests.*’ 

‘^Now do you see daylight?” Stanley asked when 
the aged amauta had gone. 

^^No!” Ted was bewildered. ‘‘I haven’t brains 
enough to go around.” 

‘^Well, then, do as I am doing. 


Trust to luck.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


SONGGO’S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 

SoNCCO, accompanied by two soldiers carrying the 
heavy boxes, returned as the first shafts of coming 
daylight penetrated the wreath of vapor that clung 
to the peaks standing like black monoliths between 
the Hidden Valley and the steaming forests of the 
Upper Amazon. The party looked tired and worn 
from the strenuous labor of the night. 

The men threw down their burdens none too gently 
and departed. Stanley noticed that one of the boxes 
had been opened, and the aged amauta, reading the 
trend of his thoughts, hastened to explain. 

could not bring the parcels without knowing 
what was in them,’’ he said; ‘Hhey might have con- 
tained some contrivance dangerous to the Inca or to 
the people, or that would help you to escape. I am 
responsible for your safe-keeping. But I found only 
sticks of sweet, harmless earth. There can be noth- 
ing wrong in letting you have them, so I had them 
brought to you. I tasted one of them; how it did 
make my head ache !” 


151 


152 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


^^You are lucky to have your head on your shoul- 
ders/’ thought Stanley, handling and eating that 
dynamite as if it were candy.” Then aloud: “Thank 
you, Soncco, for bringing it. You shall be well re- 
warded for your trouble. Now you must continue 
to do as we say.” 

“No! I will do nothing more. My conscience 
troubles me already. I may have done too much. 
And, besides, the things you ask me to do are too hard. 
The tunnel imder the wall was blocked with stones; 
we had to remove them, and there were many; then 
hunt for the cave in the darkness. Uti is a terrible 
place even when the sun shines. What then is it at 
night? The bats were chirping and fluttering about 
our heads, and we had to drive them away to keep 
from being attacked; and one of the men bumped 
into a wasp’s nest, so that we were all stung. After 
we finally found the boxes they had to be dragged 
back to the wall and through the passage, and then 
there were all the stones to put into place again. 
The men grumbled at the work, and I, Soncco, old 
though I am, had to help them.” 

“I am sorry we had to put you to all that trouble; 
but remember, we are helping you more than any one 
else. Do you want to take the lives of your relatives 
and friends?” 


SONCCO^S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 153 


^^No! You know that. My heart is heavy that 
this duty has fallen upon me.’^ 

''Then do as I say and you will be relieved of that 
duty.’’ 

"But the Inca’s command must be obeyed.” 

"Of course. We have given you our word before 
this that his wishes shall be carried out. In other 
words, you will do exactly as he directs. Go ahead 
with all the preparations; do as you were told. It is 
Quizquiz who will change his mind at the proper 
time. And, remember, you shall be well paid.” 

"Who will reward me?” 

"The king. Be patient. You shall see in a few 
days.” 

"My head is dizzy. I cannot think clearly. But 
no matter what happens I can be no worse off than I 
am. I curse the day that Villac Umu obtained his 
evil power over Quizquiz,” Soncco murmured. 

"Come back at nightfall, then,” Stanley continued. 
"We want you to take these boxes away again. Bring 
only one man with you this time — some one you can 
trust absolutely. If he is deaf, dumb, and blind, it 
will be all the better.” 

"Yes, yes; I will be here. You have me completely 
in your power. And may all the devils of Uti tor- 
ture you if you betray me.” 


154 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


not worry. You will soon find out that we 
have told you nothing but the truth. Then you will 
be thankful to us.^’ 

“I will keep my word/^ Soncco said, ‘^and at the 
same time I will make provisions against trickery. 
Do not forget that.’’ 

When the old amauta had gone the two opened 
the boxes and took out the fuse and primers; then 
they began to prepare the charge. They fastened one 
of the long, copper caps to one end of the fuse and 
then inserted it in a stick of dynamite, carefully fold- 
ing back the paper wrapper over the end and tying it 
in place with a strip of cloth torn from their clothing. 
As they worked Stanley explained his scheme to Ted. 
The latter fell in with it immediately, and to all out- 
ward appearances both were cheerful and entirely con- 
fident over the outcome of the plan. 

am going to ask you just one more time,” Ted 
said suddenly after a short pause, and with a trace 
of anxiety in his voice. ‘‘Are you sure about the date 
of the echpse? And are you certain you made no 
mistake in keeping track of the time — the knots in 
the string, I mean?” 

*^Wait and you shall see,” was all Stanley could 
say. Of course he knew that everything depended 
on these two things, and several times he was on the 


SONCCO^S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 155 


verge of confessing to Ted his uncertainty as to both 
the date and the number of knots. But why should 
he add to the burden of worry of his companion? If 
he were mistaken, they would meet the end like men, 
fighting to the last gasp. If he were right, they woulci 
be freed, no doubt. Better look at the bright side, 
anyway, and make their last days as cheerful as pos- 
sible. They could do no more than had been done, 
and in the meantime they were constantly on the 
alert for any eventuahty that might present itself. 

Food of excellent quality and in abundance was 
brought the two by the guards. Soncco was respon- 
sible for that, they felt sure. They were also per- 
mitted to walk around the outside of their tent. A 
double row of soldiers, well armed, formed a compact 
circle around them, and not more than twenty paces 
away. They watched every movement of the prison- 
ers and held their spears ready for instant action. 

As they strolled about they could not help but see 
that preparations for the awful event had begun on 
all sides of them. They had frequent ghmpses of 
Soncco hobbling from one group of workers to another, 
giving sharp orders, reprimanding, and directing their 
labors in general. 

Here, a furnace was being built in which to heat 
the spear with which to blind Toparca. The workers 


156 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


had piled up two rows of stones and were covering 
them with mud. After that other stones were placed 
across the top and’ plastered down with more mud so 
that no heat could escape from the interior of the 
oven-like structure. 

A short distance away was the enormous earthen- 
ware caldron; menials in a steady stream were bring- 
ing oil in small vessels and pouring it into the huge 
container. Ted and Stanley did not envy Huascar 
the fate that awaited him. 

The stones that were intended for Tupichi lay in a 
neat heap. They were the size of apples, and were 
round and smooth, having been gathered from the 
river-bed. 

Then their eyes met another sight that made them 
shudder. On the far end of an op>en, arena-like plot 
masons were constructing a short wall. The stones 
were being dragged to the spot by long lines of men. 
As the work progressed, earth was banked up against 
the structure and tamped down to form an inchned 
plain up which other stones could be hauled into posi- 
tion on top of the last layer of the wall. The ingenuity 
displayed would have been interesting to the Americans 
had they not known the sinister meaning of the work. 
It was against this wall that they were to be chained, 
with the deadly snakes at their feet. Copper rings 


SONCCO^S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 157 


on long spikes had been incorporated in the wall be- 
tween the stones to receive the chains that would hold 
them in their helpless, hopeless position. 

After surveying the various activities for a short 
time they went back into their prison tent. 

One of us will have to accompany Soncco to-night,^’ 
Stanley announced when they were inside, ‘Ho see 
that the dynamite is placed where it will do the most 
damage.^’ 

“I will go,’^ Ted volunteered, “but I doubt if I can 
get past the guards, even in the company of Soncco. 
The soldiers get their orders higher up.’^ 

“That is why I asked him to bring along some one 
he trusts absolutely. That one must change clothes 
with one of us and remain here while the work is 
being done. Perhaps I had better go.’’ 

“It isn’t fair to let you face all the danger.” 

“There is no danger, but even if there were, it 
would be up to me because I started the thing, and I 
shall have to see it through. You entertain the sub- 
stitute while I am away.” 

“It is all a capital idea. How easy everything is 
when you know just how to do it ! You are a better 
general than Pizarro. He killed the Inca and caused 
the death of millions of the people. You will bring 
the whole nation to its knees through strategy, and 


158 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


they will respect you instead of hating you as they 
did the Spaniard/^ 

Never mind that kind of talk. We havenT done 
a thing yet.^’ 

“But we shall, to-morrow,’’ Ted said confidently. 

Stanley suppressed a sigh and turned away. 

Soncco arrived in due time. 

“You see, I have kept my promise,” he said without 
enthusiasm. “And I have brought a man who can 
neither hear, see, nor speak.” 

^You are a wonder, Soncco,” Stanley returned glee- 
fully. Then he told him what was expected of him. 

At first the aged teacher was absolutely set against 
allowing Stanley to accompany him after exchanging 
clothes with the man he had brought. He was certain 
that it must be part of a plot to escape, the far-reach- 
ing branches of which he could not foresee. 

“But,” they argued, “what good would it do one 
of them to get away while the other remained a pris- 
oner in the valley? Could he not quickly take re- 
venge on the hostage who was left to his mercy ? From 
what he had seen of them, did it seem possible that 
one of them would desert the other in such a posi- 
tion?” 

Soncco finally was forced to bow to the strength of 
their arguments. But only the firm conviction that 


SONCCO’S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 159 


his lot was already so luckless that it could not pos- 
sibly be worse, no matter what happened, and that the 
growing unrest among the people was spreading to 
the proportions where it was a menace to the exist- 
ence of the race induced him to lend his aid in a 
scheme he could not comprehend. 

Therefore the two, carrying the heavy boxes of ex- 
plosive, left the tent at a moment when clouds ob- 
scured the moon, Soncco taking the lead, Stanley, fully 
disguised in the borrowed clothes, following at his 
heels. Before long the latter realized how futile it 
would have been for them to attempt to leave the 
place of confinement unaided by some one in full 
authority. They passed through no fewer than five 
lines of sentries. To each of the five challenges 
Soncco replied with a different password, and in addi- 
tion there was also a short ceremony to be gone through 
with each time they were halted. Thus, at the first 
challenge of '^Who lives Soncco replied with Quiz- 
quiz, the great and glorious king,^^ and, stooping, 
picked up a handful of earth which he threw over his 
left shoulder. At the second station he answered, 
'^Quizquiz, greatest of all the great kings, and beat 
his breast three times with his free hand; and so on 
until all the guard-lines had been passed. 

It was with a feeling of relief that Stanley finally 


160 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


found himself in the open country beyond the encamp- 
ment. He offered to carry Soncco’s burden in addi- 
tion to his own, for the old man was lacking in strength; 
but the amauta insisted on retaining possession of the 
package, adding in a whisper: ‘'Now you walk in front 
of me, and at the first sign of treachery I will kill 
you; I have a poisoned dagger in my hand.’^ 

“Do not be foolish,’^ Stanley responded, losing 
patience. “I would not leave this place now if you 
asked me to. I want to stay to see all of you get 
what^s coming to you.^’ 

Before long they reached the foot of the great wall, 
looming black and awe-inspiring high into the cloud- 
checkered sky. They followed along the base, their 
elbows almost touching the cool, moss-covered stones, 
until they reached the point where the gigantic struc- 
ture joined the abrupt face of the mountain. It was 
here that the passage into Uti had been dug under the 
foimdation; the existence of this opening saved them 
the labor of making another in which to place the 
explosive. 

“We need go no farther,’^ Stanley announced, care- 
fully depositing his pack on the ground and reheving 
the aged man of his. 

“lam glad of that; my limbs are weary, for I am no 
longer young.’’ 


SONCCO^S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 161 


‘^Then rest while I work. Sit right beside me if 
you wish, so you can see everything I do.^^ 

will tie this thong to your foot, and fasten the 
other end to my own feet.’’ 

Stanley was on the point of making a wrathy reply 
when the humor of the situation struck him. Soncco, 
in spite of his shrewdness, was childish in many ways. 
With the thong tied to his feet and the other end in 
Stanley’s possession, it would have been an easy 
matter to upset the old man and then pounce upon 
him. But of course he did not intend to do anything 
of the kind. With a smile he submitted to his com- 
panion’s whim. Then he fell to work in earnest, 
carefully following the plan formulated by Ted and 
himself after much discussion. 

The passage under the wall had been left partly open 
by Soncco when he brought back the boxes of dynamite 
from the other side. Therefore Stanley had to close 
it again. He began by roUing stones into the tunnel 
and pushed them to the far end, packing in the open 
spaces between them with earth. When haK of it 
had been filled he carefully planted the explosive, plac- 
ing the fuse so that it led out where Soncco was sit- 
ting. Then he shut up the remaining portion of the 
passage with earth and the largest stones he could 
handle. 


162 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


This took several hours of the hardest kind of work. 
Stanley was nearly exhausted when the task was com- 
pleted. 

‘^Now listen,” he said, seating himself by the side 
of his guard. “If you fail us in this one detail, every- 
thing will be lost.” 

“I am willing to hear. Speak !” 

“Here is a white cord,” Stanley explained, placing 
the end of the fuse in Soncco’s hands. “I will leave 
it here in plain view. To-morrow you must have a 
trusted guard stand on this spot beginning with the 
rising of the sun. He must not go away from this 
place for an instant, understand, for it all depends 
upon his faithful performance of the duty you will 
impose upon him.” 

“What is that duty?” 

“When the hght of your god, the sun, is suddenly 
blotted out, as it were, by a hand to hide his face in 
shame over the actions of his child Quizquiz, and of 
all the rest of you, too, who meekly permit him to do 
such fiendish things; when the blackness of night has 
enveloped the valley, although it is only noon; when 
the bats leave their caves, and the beasts of prey 
come out of their dens to kill their defenseless victims, 
thinking the day is over — that will be the time for 
him to act. Fire must be apphed to the end of this 


SONCCO^S AID TO THE PLOTTERS 163 


cord. It will begin to burn and sputter, and later 
will send out a message that will be heard throughout 
the valley, and even far beyond. But I must caution 
you of this: when the cord begins to give off its first 
crackling sparks, let the man who lighted it flee from 
the spot. His work here will be finished, so he must 
hurry back to the encampment, and not stop running 
xmtil he reaches it.’^ 

Soncco appeared greatly impressed. 

^^The message that will be conveyed by the cord,^^ 
he asked in an awed whisper, will it reach the sun?^’ 

'‘Who knows? It may reach farther than the 
sim.” 

"And will it cause the bright light and warmth to 
come back to us again 

"If the sunlight should be withheld from the earth 
all life would soon come to an end. Nothing could 
live in the cold and everlasting darkness.’’ 

"Oh ! Such a calamity must not befall us.” 

"Then follow my instructions to the letter. Will 
you?” 

"I swear it. My own beloved brother, whom I 
trust in all things, shall be assigned to this mission. 
His faithfulness cannot be questioned.” 

"Good. Now we might as well start back. My 
companion is waiting, and we must get past the 


164 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


guards before daylight comes or they would recognize 
me.” 

‘^Yes, and that would spoil everything. I can 
hardly wait to see if you are really such wonderful 
magicians, or if you have been deceiving me.” 

^^Soncco,” Stanley said with a note of pleading in 
his voice, ‘Mo everything exactly as Quizquiz has 
commanded. If he should suspect anything he might 
remove you from your position, where you can help 
us and — yourself. Be patient. Continue to trust us. 
And you will not be disappointed in the end.” 

“Now what do you want?” rather testily. 

“Nothing right now. But if we should need you 
again we shall let you know. How about this cord? 
Do you expect me to walk back like this?” 

Soncco removed the thong from Stanley’s ankle 
and the two started away at a fast walk. They passed 
through the guard-lines without trouble. Stanley re- 
turned the borrowed garments to the waiting man, 
and then the latter, led by the aged amauta, departed. 


CHAPTER XV 

THE TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 

Ted and Stanley slept little during the night pre- 
ceding that fateful day. And, to Ted’s occasional 
questioning, Stanley could only repeat that he thought 
his record of the time correct; however, there was no 
way of finding out for a certainty. The morrow alone 
would tell. 

The camp was astir early. Groups of musicians 
struck up tunes on reed instruments accompanied by 
the deep roll of drums. The wailing of the flutes 
seemed to carry a mournful note, an ominous message 
in its very monotony. But, when singers joined in the 
music, their shrill voices rising and falling in gay 
cadence, it changed its tenor and was more like the 
celebration of some joyous festival than the beginning 
of a day of torture and fife-taking. How pitiless these 
people were, how devoid of all compassion I Down- 
trodden and suffering though they were, they made 
an outward show of rejoicing at the ill fortune of others. 

After a breakfast scarcely touched by the two, 

they were taken to the arena where the spectacle was 
165 


166 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


to be staged. A vast number of people had already 
assembled. Most of them stood in a solid mass sur- 
rounding an open square; armed guards formed lines 
and held them in check. On one side stood those of 
noble birth, dressed in their most gorgeous attire and 
bedecked with jewels. Round ornaments of gold hung 
from their ears. Some wore large breast-plates of 
the same precious metal that extended from shoulder 
to shoulder, and from the chin to the waist-line. Their 
mantles were embroidered or brocaded in curious fig- 
ures of birds and animals, among which the condor 
and puma were conspicuous by the frequency with 
which they appeared. Huge golden pins, shaped like 
spoons, held the draperies in place. And chains of 
emeralds hung from their necks, while the turbans that 
crowned their heads were a mass of bright colors and 
flashing stones. Each noble was accompanied by a 
number of attendants that held a canopy of cloth of 
fine texture over his head to shield it from the sun, 
and in his hand he carried a staff of polished wood 
with numerous gold and silver pendants that denoted 
his rank and position. 

Quizquiz arrived not long after. He came in his 
sedan of gold, massive and heavy, and borne on the 
shoulders of his highest officials. As the latter de- 
posited their burden on a specially constructed plat- 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 167 


form, Ted and Stanley could not suppress exclama- 
tions of surprise at his lavish and beautiful attire. He 
was wrapped in a mantle of gold cloth that covered 
him from his head to his feet; throwing this aside 
carelessly, he revealed his undergarments made of the 
same material. Bracelets and amulets covered his 
arms. The chain around his neck, falling to his waist, 
was composed of alternate turquoise, pearls, and 
emeralds, some of them the size of a pigeon^s egg, and 
so skilfully had the gems been pohshed that there was 
continuous play of refracted light in a thousand points 
of shimmering, satiny color. 

Quizquiz carried a burnished-silver mirror in his 
hand and made frequent use of it to throw a shaft of 
dazzling light into the eyes of some favorite; this was 
always the signal for the honored one to fall upon his 
knees and to chant the praises of the sovereign who 
had thus condescended to throw the radiance, sup- 
posedly emanating from the Inca^s sacred person, 
upon him. 

After amusing himself in this manner for some time, 
Quizquiz spoke: 

Rejoice with me, for this day is an eventful one,’’ 
he said. am about to rid my kingdom of its worst 
enemies; the two strangers who came to spy on me 
and to rob me, and also of those others who are of no 


168 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


further use to me, but are rather a burden. There are 
more persons in the valley deserving of a similar fate, 
and they all shall be called to account in due time. 
We shall have these imposing spectacles often. It 
shall be my pleasure to attend them; you also shall 
be commanded to do so, for they shall remind you of 
my greatness and of your own abject station. And 
let each one feel that perhaps he may some day be 
chosen to delight my eye as one of those to die in my 
presence. What end could be more glorious for a 
slave? So cherish the hope of that honor in your 
hearts.^’ 

The crowd moved uneasily. Evidently they did not 
relish recognition of that kind. Was there no limit 
to the vainglorious boasting and cruelty of the tyrant ? 
Was he personally responsible for his words and deeds, 
or was there some evil influence that prompted him 
to do such things? Among the spectators were not a 
few who knew the truth, and their unanimous verdict 
would have placed the responsibility upon the shoul- 
ders of Villac Umu. 

‘^Now let the ceremonies begin. Soncco will at- 
tend to his duties well or suffer dire consequences. 
First, let the two men from the outer world be bound 
to the wall; then tie the serpents at their feet.” 

Soncco bowed low to the Inca. His face was pale 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 169 


and his eyes shot fire. Resentment was pictured in 
his every feature, and Ted and Stanley knew that it 
was directed not at them but at the king. Still, he 
had no alternative but to obey the command. He 
started his work in a businesslike manner, and pre- 
pared personally to bind the hands of the Americans 
with copper chains. As he reached their side he 
whispered in Stanley’s ear: ^Tray to your God, to 
mine, or to any other one you want to; use your most 
powerful charms and magic. But let everything 
happen just as you said it would. If you fail in this, 
stand quietly until Quizquiz has taken too much 
wine; then break away, for the chains have an open 
link, and kill Villac Umu. Leave the rest to me. 
Here is a dagger,” and he sHpped a long, keen blade 
into Stanley’s hand, hiding the transaction with his 
cloak. 

Stanley made no answer, but a moment later con- 
veyed the information to Ted, who was tied close by 
his side. 

These preparations completed, the priests from the 
Temple of the Snakes put in their appearance. They 
were a hideous lot, clothed in long mantles of a drab 
color, and wore black masks over their faces. Each 
one carried a tuft of red feathers in his hand. The 
column, headed by six of its number who beat drums 


170 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


and sang in a weird jargon, marched to the Inca^s 
dais and halted. The drum-beats ceased and the 
priests prostrated themselves on the ground, rising 
after a moment and forming a semicircle in front of 
the doomed men. One of the leaders produced two 
bags from under his cloak; he untied the string of one 
of them and shook its contents on the ground. It 
was a great snake, drawn up in a mass of tight coils, 
and hissed defiantly at the men who stood around it. 
The two saw at once that it was a bushmaster, the 
deadliest and most feared of all South American ser- 
pents. But what a monster it was I It could have 
been no less than ten feet long. As it raised its head, 
slowly, the deep orange color of its back, marked with 
a regular pattern of broad, black X’s, glistened with a 
metallic lustre in the sunlight. 

Before the reptile could get its bearings to dart 
away several of the priests pounced upon it and seized 
it in their hands, for it was harmless so far, its arrow- 
shaped head having been covered with a muzzle of 
fine, gold wires. A stout cord was fastened around 
its neck, and with this it was securely tied at Ted^s 
feet, the priests stretching out the snake and allowing 
suflScient cord so that it could strike to within less than 
an inch of the man. 

The second bag was now opened and its occupant. 



It was a bushmaster, the deadliest and the most feared of all South American snakes 







TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 171 


exactly like that of the first, bound in front of Stanley. 
Then two of the priests pinned the heads of the snakes 
to the ground with long, forked sticks, while others 
removed the wires that held the death-dealing jaws 
together. This accomphshed, the entire company 
performed a wild, uncanny dance, howling and rush- 
ing past the supposedly helpless men and the serpents. 
As they passed each stooped and struck the reptiles 
a blow with his tuft of feathers, until they had been 
aroused to a mad frenzy. After that the priests again 
marched up to the Inca^s sedan, fell flat on their faces 
as before, and took up their station in the front ranks 
of the onlookers. 

Ted and Stanley were fascinated by the terrible 
creatures at their feet. Enraged at the treatment 
received from the priests, the snakes were lunging to 
right and to left, and then settled down to striking at 
the men in front of them. Again and again their re- 
pulsive heads shot forward, with wide-open mouths 
and long, white fangs that glistened in the sunlight; 
but the tethers kept them just out of reach and tanta- 
hzed them to further effort. And all the while the 
snakes coiled and uncoiled their great, scale-covered 
bodies and lashed their tails on the hard ground with 
such rapidity that they made a buzzing sound. Ted 
and Stanley felt the cold, sinuous bodies writhe against 


172 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


their bare feet; how long could they withstand this 
ordeal? If it was true that snakes could charm, and 
they began to think it was because they could not re- 
move their gaze from the greenish eyes of the reptiles, 
they would be unable to endure the strain much longer, 
and would soon either droop within reach of the 
darting heads or be compelled to make a break for 
liberty. 

Peals of laughter from Quizquiz recalled them to 
their senses. 

is better than I had hoped,^^ he said in a shrill 
voice. Praised be Villac Umu, who is father of the 
idea.” 

The high priest, who was seated in his own golden 
sedan by the Inca^s side, rose and bowed in recogni- 
tion of this compliment. 

“For the pleasure of my adored one I would arrange 
any spectacle,” he said. 

“Now let us feast and sing and dance to while away 
the time,” Quizquiz continued. “Bring the sparkling 
wine that we may drink to the evil fortune of the men 
from the outer world.” 

Golden cups of large size, filled with a beverage 
made from ground, fermented maize, were brought by 
attendants, and after the Inca and Villac Umu had 
partaken liberally, the others of the nobility were 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 173 


served. The drinking continued throughout the re- 
mainder of the morning, interrupted only when Soncco 
came to report the progress of the preparations that 
were being made for the other victims. 

^‘The spear-point glows with a reddish heat, and 
Toparca lies on the ground, bound hand and foot,'’ he 
said on one occasion, and, ^^The oil is bubbling in the 
caldron; Huascar is near by, well guarded and sullenly 
awaiting his fate," on another. But Quizquiz only 
laughed and bade Soncco stay his hand and to place 
the condemned men in a position so they could see 
what was happening to the strangers. 

To Ted and Stanley the hours seemed like eternity. 
Would Quizquiz never succumb to the influence of the 
liquor? The amount he could consume was pro- 
digious ! The strain of remaining in one position was 
becoming unbearable. They dared not shift their feet; 
the snakes, now motionless, with heads raised a few 
inches above their coiled bodies, were quietly waiting 
for the decisive moment. 

^^It must be noon now," Ted finally ventured. 

^^Yes," said Stanley slowly, looking up at the glar- 
ing sun almost overhead in a cloudless sky. 

^^No signs of anything happening yet," uneasily. 
“I wonder if Soncco told the truth about the open 
link in the chains. He may have said that simply 


174 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


to pacify us, so we would submit to being bound with- 
out a struggle/’ 

^‘Wait a little while longer. Then — ^well, I believe 
Soncco told the truth. We must get Villac Umu. If 
there is a fight, any one and every one else will do for 
the next, but I think that with the high priest out of 
the way Soncco can handle the crowd; he is the 
one they really hold in superstitious fear. Snap the 
chain suddenly and jump to one side so far as you can. 
Remember that Pizarro conquered the whole nation 
of millions of people by capturing the leader; we have 
a chance of doing the same thing on a smaller scale 
with that beast out of the way.” 

Minutes passed; they waited in vain. 

^*I must have been mistaken, after all,” Stanley said 
gloomily as he caught an impatient look from Soncco. 
*^Look! he is signalling us now. Let’s break away. 
Are you ready?” 

‘'Yes. Give the word.” 

A crash halted the reply on Stanley’s lips. 

“Cursed drink that has dimmed my vision,” Quiz- 
quiz shouted, at the same time dashing his heavy 
golden goblet to the floor of his litter, “for it must be 
my blurred eyes that deceive me. Look, Villac Umu I 
Do you see anything?” 

The Inca and the high priest were anxiously scan- 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 175 


ning the heavens, shielding their eyes with jewel- 
bedecked hands. Concern and fear were plainly pic- 
tured in their faces. 

‘^It is not the drink. Stanley was quick enough to 
comprehend the situation and to make use of it to 
their advantage. ^‘What you see is a giant hand 
grasping the neck of your helpless Sun-God. Soon his 
light will fade and you will be floundering in the dark- 
ness. Your time has cornel^’ 

Then to Ted in a joyous shout: “I was right I I was 
right ! Look ! The eclipse; it is starting.’^ 

The two could scarcely keep from jumping from 
their places, but the decisive moment had not arrived. 

The stillness of death had fallen upon the multitude. 
The drum-beats stopped suddenly, the reed flutes 
ceased their wails, the voices of the singers were hushed, 
and half-emptied cups of wine slipped from nerveless 
fingers and fell to the ground. Every eye was turned 
skyward, and upon the sea of faces came a pallor and 
a look of horror, for the impossible was unquestionably 
happening. A black disk was rapidly stealing over the 
face of the sun from the west; half of the flaming orb 
was already obscured, and slowly but relentlessly a 
sickly gray twilight was falling upon the earth. Bril- 
liant colors faded in the uncanny dusk, and jewels 
that had flashed and shimmered grew dull and lifeless. 


176 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


Familiar objects took on strange, fantastic shapes be- 
fore they melted in a maze of grotesque shadows. 

Speak, Villac Umu! Speak!” Quizquiz’s voice 
was bordering on despair, ^^You are High Priest of 
the Temple of the Sun and know the will of the gods. 
You said this thing could not happen.” 

‘Ht is but a cloud,” Villac Umu explained nervously, 
but his faltering words carried no conviction. 

“You lie I It is not a cloud. Command the shadow 
to retreat. Show your power. Use your magic. 
Do anything you wish to stop this terrible thing!” 

The high priest arose and stretched both arms 
heavenward. In one hand was a staff from which 
numerous charms dangled, in the other a rattle of 
dried seeds. He loudly berated the demons that dared 
thrust themselves in front of the sun, and commanded 
them to depart without delay. He shook his staff and 
rattled his charms at them, but the grayness rapidly 
deepened into gloom, and when the last vestige of 
hght had disappeared his helplessness was apparent 
to all. Loud cries, first singly, then in chorus, were 
raised in terrible accusation. In the darkness it was 
impossible to see who spoke, and this gave the speak- 
ers courage to say what was on their minds, but Ted 
and Stanley recognized the voice of Soncco among the 
leaders. 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 177 


‘‘Villac Umu is to blame for this; he said it could 
not happen, but it did, and now he is powerless to 
protect us. Kill him!” the mob shouted, and Quiz- 
quiz shares in his guilt; he is not fit to be king, for he 
has betrayed us.” 

Then one solemn voice made itself heard above the 
multitude: 

^^Stay in your places,” it shouted, ‘^for you know 
not what new terror may overtake you if you move. 
Do nothing — ^yet. First beg the white man, who has 
shown you his power, to bring back the sunlight he 
has taken away, then ” 

A deafening crash cut short the words that came 
from Soncco’s lips. Then more crashes came, fol- 
lowed by roars and rumbles that shook the very ground 
beneath their feet. 

Ted and Stanley were nearly as much startled as 
were the others, for in the excitement of the moment 
they had completely forgotten the dynamite. 

^^Now,” Stanley shouted, “let^s go.” 

With a start they snapped their chains and leaped 
to one side. Stanley rushed up to Soncco, who, too, 
seemed bewildered. 

^‘Silence the crowd,” he panted. have some- 
thing to say that I want every one to hear.” 

Regaining his senses, Soncco blew shrill blasts upon 


178 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


a trumpet, but it was some time before the confusion 
subsided. Judging by the sounds, the majority of 
the people were either kneeling or had fallen to the 
ground in their terror. 

“You have seen and heard everything,’^ Stanley 
shouted at the top of his voice. “NoWj what do you 
want? Choose between ” 

His words were drowned in the clamor that went up. 

“Kill Quizquiz and Villac Umu,” the thousands de- 
manded, “and make the white man king. His com- 
panion shall be high priest. We ask nothing more than 
to be permitted to serve them as slaves for the re- 
mainder of our lives if they will but bring back the 
sunlight.” 

It was with the greatest difficulty that Soncco again 
silenced them. 

“It shall be as you say,” said Stanley. “But for 
the present let every one remain in his place. The 
sunlight will come back again, and so long as you 
obey my wishes no harm shall come to you. But if a 
single one of you betrays his pledge, worse things may 
happen.” 

“You shall be king,” the multitude roared. “We 
swear it.” 

“Quizquiz is gone,” Soncco whispered to Stanley; 
“the thunder of your medicine was too much for him. 


TERROR OF DARKNESS AT MIDDAY 179 


He jumped to the ground and ran when the crash 
came. Villac Umu followed him/^ 

^^Will they keep their promise Stanley asked. 

‘‘Without question/^ Soncco assured him. “And 
I am sure you will fill the lofty stations in a manner 
befitting them.’^ 

“What do you mean? What stations? We want 
to leave so soon as possible. 

“What are the wishes of an individual compared to 
the welfare of a nation? Consider yourself king, al- 
though the actual crowning ceremonies are still to be 
performed. And your companion is head of all the 
rehgious orders. If you had planned to go back to 
your people, you may find that they will insist on 
keeping you here, for the people have sworn it.’^ 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 

The sunlight returned in due time, and with its 
coming the people regained their composure. A shout 
that rapidly assumed the proportions of a roar went 
up as the assembled host proclaimed Stanley their 
king, and Ted high priest. This latter office was the 
second highest any man could hold. A few short 
minutes before they had been meek spectators to the 
terrible ordeal to which the white men had been sub- 
jected, ready to see them die without the courage to 
so much as say a single word in their defense. But 
now the tide had turned. Men who could command 
the sun to be darkened, and to shine again, and who 
brought thunder to the earth, were not men in reality 
in their sight, but gods. And to prove this conten- 
tion, had the two not come from the sky in some mys- 
terious contrivance they could control? It was but 
an example of how the estimation in which people are 
held too often varies with their fortunes. 

“Long hve the king and the high priest and 

“let them be crowned now!” they cried, while stal- 
180 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 181 


wart hands seized them, and carrying them aloft 
placed them in the golden thrones that had been de- 
serted by Quizquiz and Villac Umu. 

Ted and Stanley were on the point of objecting, 
but a look from Soncco silenced them. They per- 
mitted the nobles to raise the shining conveyances to 
their shoulders and carry them to the regally ap- 
pointed quarters that had been occupied by the Inca. 

Stanley's first official act was to order the instant 
release of the other prisoners who had been condemned 
to die with them. Next, he instructed the commander 
of the troops to capture Quizquiz and Villac Umu, and 
to bring them to him, unharmed. After that he 
commanded that preparations for the return to the 
city be made at once, and that the journey begin 
early the following morning. Soncco was appointed 
counsellor, and to him they intrusted the management 
of all civic affairs, the important ones, however, to 
be brought to Stanley's attention before action was 
taken. Upon reaching the capitol he would take up 
everything in detail and consider what was best for 
the future. In the meantime work was to be re- 
sumed by the inhabitants, and the laws administered 
exactly as they were before. This done, every one 
was dismissed excepting only Soncco and the servants 
of the royal quarters. 


182 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


^*You will dispose with all formalities while in our 
presence/^ Stanley instructed the aged amauta. “No 
crawling or bowing or taking off your shoes. We will 
conduct things on strictly business basis. Talk freely. 
We depend on you to help us.^’ 

To the former Soncco reluctantly agreed, for was 
not a king entitled to homage? The latter he would 
do with pleasure. 

“Now let^s take a walk,’’ Ted suggested. “I am 
eager to see how much damage that dynamite did to 
the wall. I didn’t think it would do more than tear 
a hole in it, but it sounded as if the whole thing fell 
down.” 

They went out of the spacious tent and looked in 
the direction of the great wall that had been erected 
to shut off the lower from the upper and larger end of 
the valley. That end of the massive structure that 
joined the natural stone escarpment of the mountains 
had fallen to the ground; there was a gap that ap- 
peared to be fully fifty yards wide. But that was 
not the more surprising result of the explosion. A 
broad rent had been tom in the mountainside itself. 

The two gazed in astonishment. 

“That hundred pounds of dynamite could never 
have done all that damage,” Ted commented, much 
puzzled by the scene of devastation. “But I am glad 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 183 


to see that there is a hole in the slope, because that 
means that we will have an easy passage into the 
outer world.^^ 

^'That is just what I was thinking. What the jar 
of the explosion did was to cause a landslide, and the 
whole upper precipice tumbled down. Look at the 
huge pile of rocks ! The avalanche carried the stones 
of the wall with it, and that accounts for the destruc- 
tion of such a large section.’’ 

To-morrow, after the people leave, let’s go over 
there for a good look at it. We can catch up with the 
procession later. And perhaps we had better examine 
the airplane, too. It is standing there exactly as we 
left it. I guess they were afraid to touch it.” 

^^Yes, let’s do those things to-morrow. We have 
had enough for to-day. I am wobbly and all in a 
muddle, and cannot realize yet all that has happened 
to us. So I am in favor of getting something to eat, 
and then going straight to bed.” 

'T second that motion. It will be the first real 
sleep in a long time.” 

The food was of the finest the valley afforded, served 
by numerous menials and with all the pomp that had 
been lavished on Quizquiz. The bowls, platters, and 
goblets were of gold, finely wrought and decorated 
with flowers, fruit, and other designs. The two ate 


184 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


heartily but refused the cups of corn wine, or chicha, 
remembering that the grain of which it had been 
brewed, first had been chewed thoroughly to induce its 
fermentation. Roast partridges, cakes made of fine 
meal, strawberries and honey, that was the repast in- 
tended for the Inca, and which they did not hesitate 
to accept. 

Soncco remained in waiting in an adjoining room, 
and at their request came for an interview in the 
evening. They discussed their future policy with 
him for a brief time, and after assigning a place to 
him for the night sought their own luxurious 
blankets. 

Sleep came almost immediately but was destined to 
be of short duration. At the command of Stanley the 
people had retired to their shelters early, thus putting 
an end to the loud chatter over the day^s events. 
Also, the numberless fires had been extinguished and 
absolute quiet reigned over the sea of tents. 

A frightful roar broke the silence of the night. For 
an instant there was not a sound; then came the hum 
of excited voices, for the encampment had been aroused, 
and lights began to flicker in many places. 

Ted and Stanley sat bolt upright. They strained 
their ears for a repetition of the sound. It came 
before long. Another roar, preceded by a few low. 


THE COMING OP THE TIGERS 185 

hoarse growls, came to the ears of the astonished lis- 
teners. 

“What under the sun can that be?^^ Ted asked, 
stepping off the edge of his couch. Stanley was up 
and had lighted a torch. 

“I never heard anything like it before.'^ 

“Sounds something like a jaguar, only much more 
powerful. Perhaps it is the noise of some wind-in- 
strument we donT know anything about. Do you 
suppose it can be Quizquiz, trying to frighten us, per- 
haps? Or is it the people serenading us?^^ 

“I donT know. Listen! It may come again.^^ 

“IT bet it is Quizquiz. He has gathered those 
of his followers who are still faithful to him, and 
is preparing to attack the camp. That was a war 
hom.^’ 

“We shall soon see. If it is anything of that kind 
Soncco will know and report to us.’’ 

The excitement among the Indians was great, but 
as the unusual sound was not repeated, and as their 
adviser did not show up, the two came to the conclu- 
sion that the disturbance did not concern them, and 
went back to bed. 

They had scarcely closed their eyes, or, at least so 
it seemed, when the camp was again thrown into an 
uproar by a repetition of the unearthly sound. 


186 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


“I am going to find out about this/^ Stanley said 
decisively. “It must be stopped.^* 

He had scarcely finished speaking when Soncco 
rushed into the apartment. 

“Forgive me, great and noble king,” he panted, 
“for entering without asking permission.” 

“I am glad you came,” Stanley replied quickly. 
“What is all the racket about? Find out who or 
what is making it and have it stopped.” 

“That is why I came to you. The people are in a 
panic and many are fleeing toward the city. They 
fear it is some evil sequel to the astounding events of 
the day.” 

“But what is it?” 

“Every one is asking that. They are begging that 
you, their king, enlighten them. On my knees I am 
presenting their humble petition.” 

The sound of heavy footfalls attracted their atten- 
tion and hushed their conversation. A moment later 
some one clapped his hands before the entrance. 

“Enter!” Stanley commanded. 

Toparca and Huascar, followed by a dozen other 
nobles, in bare feet and carrying their sandals on their 
left shoulders as a sign of homage, filed into the tent. 
Their faces were pale and they could hardly suppress 
their excitement. 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 187 


\ 

“Speak quickly and freely, for I know what is on 
your minds,’’ Stanley encouraged. 

“Lords, lords, who have mastered the air and to 
whose wishes even the Sun-God bows, save us or we 
shall all be killed,” cried one of the party as they all 
fell upon their knees and stretched their hands toward 
Stanley and Ted. 

“Stand up. Now explain just what you mean. 
What do you want us to save you from?” Stanley 
was losing patience. 

“We do not know. But having seen and heard the 
events of the past day, and having been shown the great 
power of the men from the outer world, we came to 
beg for help and for mercy. A new horror is stalking 
through the valley. Every one is terror-stricken. An 
undefinable dread clutches at each heart. The air is 
heavy with forebodings and vibrates with the rum- 
blings from monster throats that bespeak death and 
destruction. We are in your power. If this be a 
punishment, let it be inflicted upon those of us who 
deserve it, but spare those who are innocent the anguish 
and the suffering they are compelled to endure await- 
ing an unknown fate.” 

‘^Wait,” Stanley said simply. Then, turning to 
Ted: “This is awful. Have you any idea what the 
trouble is?” 


188 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


^‘This is so bewildering I can hardly think. There 
it is again.’^ 

Once more the frightful roar reached their ears, 
followed by shrieks and wails. For a moment they 
studied the blanched faces before them in the vain 
hope that they might betray some clew to the solution 
of the mystery. 

^^We are certainly up against it. Let^s go outside. 
Perhaps we can learn something definite there. 

Throwing light blankets over their shoulders they 
started toward the door. As they reached it they 
nearly collided with a man who was dashing in. 

HaK-naked, with streaming, dishevelled hair and 
bulging, startled eyes, he was a picture of the kind of 
fear that borders on insanity. 

have heard with my own ears, and I have seen 
with my own eyes,^^ he shrieked, waving his trembling 
hands over his head, ^‘and I shall carry the image of 
it into my grave. 

^^Who is he?^’ Stanley asked Soncco. 

^^He is Lolo, one of the officers of the guard.’’ 

^^Lolo, having heard and seen, you will tell me 
everything. Talk slowly and distinctly and keep 
nothing from me. Remember, your king commands 
it.” Stanley addressed the man in a tone of au- 
thority. 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 189 


This in a measure brought the officer to his senses, 
but the look of bewilderment did not leave his eyes, 
and his face retained the expression of fright and suf- 
fering. He bowed low, unsteadily, and asked for- 
giveness for intruding into the royal quarters without 
permission. 

^Tt is all right, Stanley reassured him; 'Hhink as 
clearly as you can, and tell us plainly what happened. 
We imderstand your position.’’ 

In obedience to the command just given him Lolo 
told of the terrible spectacle he had witnessed. 

'T was on my rounds, inspecting the guard,” he 
panted, '^and was just nearing the post close to the 
mountains. One of the soldiers was pihng wood on 
the watch-fire, and the flames shot up, lighting the 
plain for many paces around. Without warning, a 
deafening roar came out of the blackness beyond the 
circle of fight. We had never heard anything like it 
before, and the shock of it was so great that we could 
not stir from the places on which we stood. We were 
as men paralyzed, and simply stared into the darkness. 
A pair of points of green fire appeared; they were the 
eyes of some great beast. A form followed, gliding 
between the watch-fire and the stone wall of the moun- 
tainside, so that its outline fell full upon the smooth 
face of the precipice. And such a monster! It 


190 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


was higher than the Temple of the Sim in the Golden 
City, with eyes that burned into our hearts and 
brains.” 

The man had gesticulated wildly during the recital. 
He now wrung his hands in despair, and was on the 
point of breaking down. 

^'Go on!” Stanley commanded. ‘‘Finish your 
story.” 

‘^The brute raised its great head; the jaws opened 
wide, like a serpent’s, and fangs, shaped like curved 
swords and longer than a man’s arm, flashed white in 
the flaring light, and then buried themselves in the 
breast of the nearest soldier. The man uttered not 
a sound, so quickly had death come. With a low, 
rumbhng growl the beast or demon, I know not which 
it may be, turned and faded away into the darkness 
whence it had come, the dead soldier limply dangling 
from its mouth.” 

“Do you expect me to believe that?” Stanley de- 
manded sternly. “Did you see it?” 

“Yes, yes. And others saw it too. I have spoken 
only the truth. The king shall have the proof of other 
eyes and other ears.” 

“Then go, all of you, as fast as you can. Command 
the people, in my name, to congregate in the centre 
of the camp, and to build a ring of fires around the 


THE COMING OF THE TIGERS 191 


outer border. Do not lose a minute. It is a matter 
of life and death.’' 

The visitors bowed and rushed away, Soncco going 
with the rest. When they had gone, Stanley turned 
to Ted. 

^^That man told the truth, but he was excited and 
exaggerated the facts. We know the worst now.” 

^^You mean that it was a ” 

“Yes, nothing less than a sabre-toothed tiger— a 
living example of the kind whose bones we found in 
the cave in Uti when we were there before. He saw 
the beast, but the thing that made the greatest im- 
pression on him was its shadow on the abrupt moun- 
tainside. Heaven only knows where it came from, 
but we must have opened the passage for it with the 
dynamite.” 

“Can it be possible that some of those awful creatures 
still survive after all the himdreds of years?” Ted 
asked incredulously. 

“It must be possible because we have the evidence. 
And, besides, anything is possible in a place like this. 
Come to think of it, I know just where it came from; 
you remember that other valley we saw from the air? 
That is the place. We are in it for fair now. A more 
terrible creature never trod the face of the earth. 
We are to blame for the calamity of turning it loose 


192 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


on these people, and we shall have to find a way of 
exterminating it; there may be many of them for all 
we know. What to do is the question. A tiger the 
size of a cow, and more powerful and ferocious than a 
. dozen of the ordinary kind, is not an antagonist to be 
sneezed at. Will our troubles never end? We havenT 
a rifle; nothing but spears and bows and arrows; they 
will do about as much good as hailstones.’’ 

have it,” Ted announced suddenly. “What 
about the machine-guns on the airplane? We can 
rig them up on mounts. Each one will be worth 
twenty rifles.” 

“Why, of course. That’s just what we’ll do. And 
we will have our hands full at that. But now, let’s 
go out and help quiet the people. They are starting 
their wailing again, and there will be real trouble un- 
less we can soothe them.” 


CHAPTER XVII 
ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 

Ted and Stanley lost no time in going out among 
the people. The event of a king minghng freely with 
his subjects, and on foot at that, was without prece- 
dent. They encouraged, soothed, and even threat- 
ened where necessary. But their presence in the 
midst of danger in itself had a calming effect on the 
majority of Indians, and the Americans rose mightily 
in the estimation of the multitude. 

'^Quizquiz deserted us in time of peril,’^ they said 
with an awe akin to adoration; ^/the new king shares 
our danger and will vanquish it, just as he drove away 
the demon of darkness and brought back the sunhght. 
Long live the new king, the greatest of them all.’’ 

Apparently the animals that had invaded the val- 
ley had become emboldened by their first onslaught, 
for toward morning the thunderous roars again rent 
the silence hovering over the valley. This time they 
were repeated more frequently and drew nearer with 
great rapidity. 

'Ht is exactly as I thought,” Stanley said. ‘^They 
193 


194 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


are coining from the direction of the gap torn by the 
dynamite/’ 

“But if they are coming from Uti, why did not 
they attack us while we were there?” Ted asked. 

“I don’t think any of the brutes survived beyond the 
wall. They must be extinct there, for we saw only 
their bones in the cave, and Timichi, the exile, who had 
lived there for years, had never been molested by 
them. The landslide caused by the jar of the explo- 
sion opened a passage from that other hidden valley 
where they still exist, and it did not take them long to 
find the outlet into a new feeding-ground.” 

“We had better make a round of the outposts. If 
the soldiers become panic-stricken and desert the fires 
the tigers will break through the lines and carry away 
more people.” 

“By all means, let’s go. This is doubtless the last 
attempt of the creatures to invade this place, for day- 
light will soon be here, and they will return to their 
hiding-places.” 

They hurried from fire to fire, and ordered the guards 
to pile on more fuel, and the two viewed with satis- 
faction the mounting glow as the flames leaped higher 
and higher. 

The unbroken prospect of the circle of crackling fire 
did not appeal to the attackers, for they did not ven- 


ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 195 


ture near to it, but after a succession of deafening 
howls and cries retreated in the direction from which 
they had come. 

Daylight brought relief to the frightened inhabi- 
tants of the valley, and Soncco urged that they break 
camp immediately and return to the capital, for in the 
stone houses of the city there would be at least a 
measure of safety. Also, preparations must be made 
without delay for the coronation ceremonies, when 
Stanley would be crowned with the crimson 6orZa, 
and Ted receive his appointment as High Priest of the 
Temple of the Sun. 

Soncco argued long and earnestly, but to all his 
pleas they replied that while, no doubt, they would 
be safe in their stone palaces, the hundreds of others 
living in the coimtry would remain exposed to the 
ravages of the great brutes, which, growing constantly 
bolder, would destroy them in increasing numbers. 
The weKare of the king depended upon the welfare of 
the people, they believed; to desert the latter at a 
time like this would be to invite their own ruin. 

No ! They were determined to attack the tigers in 
their own fastness, in their very lairs, if necessary; 
to exterminate them if possible, and if not, to at least 
check their inroads. After that had been accomplished 
there would be time enough to consider other matters. 
But the safety of the populace came first. 


196 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


After a hurried breakfast the two Americans hastened 
to the stranded airplane. The wings and body had 
been battered considerably by the wind, but as no 
rain had fallen since their arrival, the guns were free 
from rust and in good working order. They im- 
mediately set about to strip the weapons, carefully 
wiped all the working parts with oily cloths, and re- 
loaded the magazines. Then they made tripods of 
stout poles on which to mount the guns. 

In the meantime the people had been sent away to 
places of security. Only fifty picked soldiers, with 
their officers, were retained. These were ordered to 
look after their bows, arrows, and swords in order to 
be sure that everything was in fighting trim. Shortly 
before noon all preparations had been completed, and 
the expedition, with Stanley and Ted in the lead, 
started for the break in the mountainside. 

If there had been any doubt as to the locality from 
which the tigers had come, the great footprints of the 
animals would have dispelled them soon. Where the 
ground was soft or under cultivation the massive paws 
had sunk to a depth of nearly twelve inches, and the 
holes measured fully as much in diameter. Some were 
larger than others, indicating that several of the beasts, 
of various ages, had been quick to take advantage of 
an opportunity to secure a meal easily. 

'*We will moimt one of the guns here,^’ Stanley 


ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 


197 


said when they had approached to within fifty yards 
of the opening. ^^You stay here with half the men; 
I will place the remainder on either side of the gap 
while I take a look at what is on the other side. If 
there is none of the animals in sight I will motion to 
you to come on. If there should be one near by and 
it charges, I will run to the rocks on one side so as to 
give you a clear sweep of the gap. Keep the gun 
trained on the opening, and if anything comes through 
hold the trigger back until you are sure the bullets 
are hitting in the right spot. You can^t miss at such 
close range.^’ 

‘‘You stay here and let me go first,’’ Ted pleaded. 
But Stanley insisted on being the one to face the 
danger. 

The gun was quickly set up, a magazine full of car- 
tridges snapped into place, and the muzzle trained on 
the narrow passage through which the tigers must 
come if they should be aroused and attempted a 
charge. Then Stanley cautiously started forward with 
his men, weapons in hand, the party moving in two 
files, one on each side, and keeping out of sight as 
much as possible behind the mass of rocks that had 
fallen from above. 

They halted when they reached the foot of the es- 
carpment, and Stanley mounted his gun on one side 


198 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


of the breech. Then he crept forward alone, at such 
a slow pace that he* seemed scarcely to move. His 
face was covered with cold perspiration, and he thought 
the pounding of his heart must be audible across the 
entire expanse of the valley, but his courage remained 
unshaken. Crouching low, he took a hurried peep 
around the edge of the rock barrier. Ted watched his 
every move, firmly gripping the handle of the gun 
with one hand, the forefinger of the other resting 
lightly on the trigger. 

Stanley must have seen nothing of a formidable 
nature, for he took a second and longer look, then, 
emboldened, crept into the opening. A few minutes 
later he emerged, crawling backward, and motioning 
to the men to remain where they were, hastened to 
Ted’s side. 

‘Ht’s the most wonderful thing I ever saw in my 
life.” He could hardly speak from excitement. “There 
is another world beyond that wall of stone, and it 
belongs to the past — thousands of years ago, I mean. 
You won’t believe it; you can’t until you see for 
yourself.” 

“What is it?” Ted asked, also breathless with ex- 
citement. “You wait here now and let me sneak up 
and see.” 

“I will crawl back and put up the gun in the pas- 


ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 


199 


sage. Then you come with yours. I canT believe 
my eyes, and I want you to see it and then tell me 
if I am right, or am I losing my mind.^’ 

To Ted, waiting in the distance, it seemed ages 
while Stanley carried out his plan, although in reality 
it was only a few minutes. The eagerly awaited wave 
of the hand came at last, so, picking up his g\m, he 
hastened to the side of his companion. 

Together they quietly made their way through the 
rent in the mountainside; the walls, jagged and torn, 
rose to a great height on each side of them, and the 
bottom was strewn with a mass of shattered rock. 
When they reached the far end of the passage they 
stopped and stared in awe and amazement at the 
panorama spread before their eyes. 

They were standing on the brink of a crater miles 
across in each direction. The floor of the great de- 
pression was only slightly lower than the spot on which 
they stood. Plots of green grass, fields of huge, black 
boulders, interspersed with islands of tall trees, met 
their gaze whichever way they turned. Whisps and 
jets of steam and smoke rose from crevices in the rock- 
fields, showing that the volcano was not yet extinct, 
but obviously it had been many, many centuries since 
there had been an eruption of any importance. In the 
centre lay a lake of large size — it covered at least a 


200 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


square mile. And enclosing the arena on all sides 
rose the stupendous walls of stone and lava, blackened 
with smoke and sulphurous fumes, and of such abrupt- 
ness that they appeared perfectly vertical. 

'‘Good heavens Ted gasped. "It looks like the 
Inferno and Paradise combined.’’ 

"It is so terrific and so unbelievable that I am 
stunned. Prehistoric is the word for it — a, leaf tom 
from the pages of the world’s history of thousands of 
years ago; perhaps even a million. Look, look !” 

Stanley was pointing to a number of black objects 
of rounded form that dotted one of the velvety, green 
areas. 

"Wonder how those stones came to be of such uni- 
form size, and why they are standing in such evenly 
distributed groups. Some one must have placed them 
there. Why, one of them is moving ! ” 

"They are not stones. They are tortoises. See 
that one ? It is the size of a wash-tub, and it’s eating 
grass.” 

"And look over there, on the margin of the water — 
to the right,” Ted whispered. 

A herd of deer was timidly approaching its favorite 
drinking-place, out in the open where the nervous 
animals had a clear view of their surroundings for 
many yards. 


ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 201 


''But the tigers! I don^t see a sign of them any- 
where except these tracks leading away from here/^ 

"They must be laying up in their lairs among the 
rocks, or in caves, maybe. Perhaps they come out 
only at night.’’ 

"That makes our work all the harder,” Ted re- 
turned. "We cannot follow them in there without 
rifles. And if they remain hidden all day long, how 
are we going to get at them?” 

"I thought of something just this minute. See that 
ledge right above us? That must be fifty feet from 
the ground. Why not hide up there to-night and 
shoot the beasts as they pass? There will be a full 
moon, so we shall have no trouble in seeing.” 

"Great! The very thing! We can stick a fluff of 
white wool on the sights to make them plainer,” Ted 
exclaimed enthusiastically. "We have a number of 
hours to get ready in, but not one too many, so let’s 
get busy right away.” 

While two of the soldiers crouched in the opening 
as sentinels, ready to give the alarm at the first sign 
of danger, the others, under the direction of Ted and 
Stanley, rigged up a ladder by winding thongs around 
a spliced pole, up which the two could climb to the 
rock shelf. This required a good deal of time, but 
when the work was finally completed the Americans 


202 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


ascended to the lofty perch, after which they hoisted 
up the guns. There were other ledges above them, 
but the lower one, they thought, was high enough for 
security. 

The guards then removed the pole-ladder. Ted and 
Stanley found themselves alone on a narrow ledge, 
and confident that from this strategic position they 
could easily stop the murderous marauders when 
nightfall should induce them to leave their hiding- 
places in quest of victims. 

The soldiers, with their officers, departed im- 
mediately, with instructions to barricade themselves 
in the nearest houses. At first the officers were re- 
luctant to leave, but they dared not disobey the com- 
mand to go now and to return early on the following 
morning. They left their woollen cloaks to be used 
as blankets by the watchers, and also a sufficient 
quantity of food. 

Ted and Stanley, from their point of vantage, scru- 
tinized the saucer-like expanse before them. Prob- 
ably they were the first men to behold the strange 
world within the crater. So long as dayhght lasted, 
life in that weird place was peaceful enough. Animals 
were abundant, almost everywhere. Species they had 
not observed before appeared here and there. Be- 
sides the tortoises and deer, there were herds of wild 


ANIMALS OF A BYGONE AGE 203 


pigs, armadillos of such great size that they must have 
weighed a ton, ant-eaters resembling the large, banded 
kind, not uncommon in the Amazon country, and 
monkeys with short tails. The creatures seemed to 
live in perfect harmony; they frolicked in play or 
busied themselves searching for food. To look at 
them engaged in their peaceful occupations, one would 
never suspect that such terrible monsters as the tigers 
lurked in their very midst. It was a curious con- 
glomeration that defied description, but of the kind 
that, the men of ages ago saw and struggled with 
daily. 

With the first signs of coming night the animals 
grew restive. The deer moved toward the high, 
barren sides of the crater; the armadillos sought their 
burrows; the tortoises waddled into crevices in the 
rocks, and the other creatures hurried to the forested 
areas. Within the space of half an hour the crater 
appeared deserted. It was ominous. Experience had 
taught the denizens of this strange region to seek their 
shelters before the onrush of darkness. 

‘^IVe loaded the magazines so there will be bursts 
of ten shots,^’ Ted announced. ^^That ought to be 
enough, and if it is not, we can let loose another string 
of ten additional ones.’^ 

‘^If that does not stop them, nothing will,” 


204 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


^‘This place does not seem so high as I thought, 
somehow or other.” 

‘^The coming darkness and the shadows are decep- 
tive. Powerful as they are, the tigers could not pos- 
sibly jump up here.” 

^‘No, of course not. But this is a creepy place, 
just the same. I hope they do not keep us waiting 
very long. I almost think I might get nervous,” Ted 
laughed, but the laugh sounded hollow and was with- 
out mirth. It seemed as if the experience would be 
more exciting and less enjoyable than they had antici- 
pated. 

Just then a black apparition swept past their faces, 
not a yard away, on silent wings, and settled on the 
ledge near by. When it hooted dismally they knew 
it was an owl. 

^^Wow!” Stanley exclaimed. 'H’U say it^s creepy 
here. And we are in for a whole night of it. They 
took the ladder away so we canT get down if we 
want to. Come on, tigers; this suspense is worse 
than fighting you.” 

And, almost before he knew it, his wish was gratified. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 

When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish 
mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon 
was already high in the heavens. The transformation 
from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the 
light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the 
land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face 
of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short 
space of time. 

The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the 
long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater 
seem weird and unreal. A streak of silvery light lay 
across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two 
men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascina- 
tion at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples 
that appeared here and there like little pools and lines 
of sparkling jewels. The creatures that were coming 
out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be 
clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines 
and dived with great splashes. Only their heads, hke 

black dots, could be seen on the surface of the water. 

205 


206 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


**They may be some kind of a muskrat, like the 
nutria of the Argentine, or like the water opossums,’^ 
Stanley suggested. ^‘Whatever they are, they do 
not seem to be afraid of anything, for, look, one is 
heading for the shore. 

suppose the tigers donT bother them; they are 
too small to make even a mouthful.^’ 

A herd of very large, black animals, with low-swing- 
ing heads and short, curved horns suddenly hove into 
sight. They emerged from a clump of forest in a 
long, straggling formation, and moved to the centre 
of the largest clearing. 

‘'Buffaloes,^’ Stanley gasped. ''A herd of buffaloes. 
But what are they doing out in the open?^^ 

should think they would hide at night, like the 
other animals we saw. But they do not seem to be 
worrying about anything. 

A shrill wail rose clear and piercing from somewhere 
in the darkness and echoed back and forth among the 
rocky walls. It was not repeated. 

^‘That sounds like a puma,^^ Ted hazarded after 
listening in vain for a repetition of the cry. ^‘1 won- 
der what next ! 

Just then one of the buffaloes gave a sharp bellow of 
alarm. The herd became charged with life instantly, 
and rushed into a compact mass so quickly it was im- 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


207 


possible to follow their movements. But when they 
again became quiet it was seen that they were stand- 
ing in a sohdly packed circle. The cows and calves 
were in the centre, and the males, facing outward with 
lowered heads and bristling horns, formed an imbroken 
stockade around them. 

''Now I see their scheme,^^ Stanley exclaimed. 
^'They have taken their stand for the night out in the 
open, where they have a chance for their lives. I 
doubt if even the sabre-tooths would dare charge that 
front of horns and hoofs. In the forest they could 
pick them off singly without much trouble, but 

A small stone struck Ted’s shoulder, dropped to the 
ledge, bounded off, and rattled down to the ground. 

Where did that come from?” he asked with a 
start. 

They looked up along the face of the stone wall, but 
saw nothing. 

“Just a loose fragment,” Stanley explained with a 
nervous laugh. “Probably small pieces are dropping 
all of the time, or an owl may have started it in 
alighting.” 

Again they strained their eyes toward the moonlit 
floor of the crater. 

“I don’t remember seeing that stone before — the 
one right below and a little to the left.” 


208 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


‘‘Nor I. But it must have been there, just the same, 
for stones can^t walk/^ 

“How smooth and round it looks. The moonlight 
and shadows make it appear more conspicuous than 
before; that is why we notice it now/’ 

“Yes; I guess you are right.” 

Another pebble came ratthng down from above, 
struck the ledge, and bounded down into the crater. 

“There is something up there. Stones like that 
would not drop one at a time unless something started 
them,” Ted whispered. “I am going to watch the 
top while you keep your eyes on the bottom.” 

But a short time elapsed. Stanley nudged his 
companion. 

“Look!” he whispered. “The smooth, round stone 
is moving. It is creeping along as stealthily as the 
shadows themselves, and it is coming in our direction. 
It must be an animal of some kind.” 

“There is one above, too,” Ted returned with bated 
breath. “They are stalking us from the top and the 
bottom.” 

Stanley quickly looked upward. What he saw 
made him gasp. A massive head was clearly outhned 
against the dark rock of the wall, and a pair of 
eyes, blazing with a green fire, seemed to pierce him 
through. 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


209 


''The guns, the guns; quick he panted, "before 
it springs. Don’t mind the one below ” 

Ted was tugging at his weapon. 

"I can’t. I can’t point it straight up. The angle 
is too great.” 

"Kneel down. I will rest it on your shoulder.” 

Stanley pulled one of the guns from its mount. 
The great head was now hanging over the edge of the 
shelf on which the creature stood, not ten feet above 
them, and from it came a rumbling growl accompanied 
by a clicking and champing of strong teeth. 

Ted had dropped to his knees. Stanley was flat on 
his back trying to bring the bead through the ring 
sight of the gun. But the high lights and shadows 
were deceptive, and before he could align the sights 
the glowing eyes had vanished again. The tiger had 
drawn back for the spring. 

"Back! Flatten yourself against the wall,” he 
shouted, throwing himself against the face of the cliff 
and dragging Ted with him. 

Something whizzed through the air; there came a 
crunching thud, and then a roar that seemed to make 
the earth tremble shattered the death-like silence that 
had reigned in the crater. An instant later a huge, 
dark form catapulted past the crouching men, heavily 
struck the edge of the narrow shelf, and fell to the 


210 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


ground with a crash. Something had gone awry; 
either the brute had miscalculated the distance or 
its footing had given away, and the fall of such a 
heavy creature from the great height must have hurt 
it sorely. 

With one accord the two men pulled themselves to 
the edge and looked down. They were just in time 
to see what they had at first mistaken for a stone rise 
to its feet, give one snarl of rage, and then spring 
upon the mass that had fallen from above and was 
thrashing about helplessly on the ground. 

As it shot through the air, white teeth, like long 
daggers, glistened in the sides of the wide-open mouth. 
There was no mistake. They were face to face with 
the sabre-toothed tigers. 

Screams and snarls, hoarse bellowings and roars 
cut short by gurgling blood filled the air, mingled with 
the sound of the heavy, struggling bodies. The brutes 
were in a deadly embrace, and rolled over and over 
on the rock-strewn ground, biting, clawing, and tear- 
ing at one another with all the ferocity of their savage 
nature. The onlookers could not tell whether this 
was the settling of an ancient grudge, or if the tiger 
that had been on the groimd had quickly realized the 
helplessness of the one that had fallen from above, 
and had taken advantage of the opportunity to easily 
rid the crater of one of its own kind, of which there 



An instant later a huge, dark form catapulted past the crouching men 


9 




THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


211 


may have been more than the limited space could 
conveniently support. 

The combat was terrifying, even from a safe dis- 
tance, but of short duration. The aggressor finished 
his work in short order. To the ears of the spell- 
bound watchers came the sound of crunching bones 
and rending flesh, mingled with cries of agony and 
fear. And from a distance rose the mournful wail of 
a lone wolf, doubtlessly watching the battle and im- 
patiently waiting for its end so that it might feast 
on the remains of the loser. Shadowy forms, also, 
were flitting noiselessly through the air, coming ap- 
parently from nowhere. They, too, were awaiting their 
share of the spoils. 

A few additional plunges of the sword-like teeth and 
the tiger that now was underneath lay still. Then 
the victor arose, shook himself, and calmly walked 
away a few paces, faced the centre of the crater and 
announced his supremacy with an ear-splitting roar. 
But was it really the proclaiming of the winning of a 
battle with one of his own kind, or did the thunderous 
voice convey a challenge? Looking in the direction 
toward which the brute had turned, the two on the 
ledge understood the situation in a flash. In front of 
the terrible creature, and not fifty yards away, stood 
a man. 

For a moment the tiger stood still, as if planning 


212 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


its strategy, then it advanced with measured steps, 
moving its head from side to side and growhng the 
while. But the man did not stir; he had taken an 
arrow from a pack that he carried slung over one 
shoulder, and was fitting it, without haste, to his bow. 

Ted and Stanley stared in horror. Who was the 
man who had dared venture into the crater, alone and 
at night, and who now calmly faced the most powerful 
as well as most savage of all the earth^s hving creatures, 
armed with but a bow and a handful of arrows? 
Surely, he must be demented, for any man in his 
right senses would know that such weapons were of 
little avail against such an adversary. 

At five paces from its victim the tiger stopped. It 
crouched low. The head was resting between the 
forepaws; the tail, which was short and thick, twitched 
nervously from side to side. Was the great beast sur- 
prised and puzzled by the audacity of the man- 
creature? Or was it preparing for the spring? 

The man, without haste, raised his bow, grasping 
the tough wooden arc and the shaft of the arrow with 
his left hand while with his right he began steadily 
and firmly to draw back the cord. The upper part 
of his body was bare, and there was the rippling play 
of powerful muscles in arms and shoulders straining 
to the limit of endurance. 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


213 


Crack! The arrow fell to the ground and the bow 
straightened with a twang. The string had snapped 
under the terrific strain. The weapon was useless. 
But the man was not dismayed by the misfortune. 
He threw it from him and calmly drew a short sword 
from his belt; then he crouched forward to await the 
onslaught of the tiger. 

Stanley sprang to his gun and Ted was not long in 
following his action. 

“We must save him,” the former shrieked. 

A string of shots rattled forth in quick succession 
as pointed tongues of flame leaped from the muzzle 
of the gun. Another followed immediately and the 
gunners took their eyes from the sights and anxiously 
looked for the result of the fusillade. Some of the 
bullets had found their mark. The great beast was 
rolling on its back, clawing the air with frantic and 
convulsive movements, and tearing at its own^shoulders 
and sides. Screams of pain came from its throat. 
But its struggles did not last long. It lay still save 
for an occasional moan and quiver, then even these 
signs of life stopped. 

“Run! Run for your life!” Stanley shouted to 
the man. “There may be another one near by. 
Come this way. There is a ladder at the foot of the 
cliff.” 


214 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


am not afraid/^ the man replied. came here 
to fight the demons.^* 

“But your bow is useless; you have only a knife, 
and that is little more than worthless against such 
creatures. 

“I will come up to you because I want to talk with 
you. After that I shall return to the crater.^* 

The man started toward them in a leisurely manner. 

“I never saw such courage before. It borders on 
recklessness.^^ 

“He must be crazy or trying to do away with him- 
self,^^ Ted said emphatically. “Wonder who he can 
be?” 

“The voice sounded familiar. I am sure I have 
heard it before, often. Do you realize that he saved 
our fives? The whiz we heard over our heads just 
as the tiger above us was about to spring was caused 
by an arrow. He saw our position and knew that it 
was hopeless, so he shot at the animal and wounded 
it; that destroyed its aim and it missed us, barely 
striking the edge of the shelf and falling to the ground. 
If it hadnT been for him the brute should have dropped 
on top of us.” 

“Well, it was a narrow escape, and I am glad we 
were able to repay the fellow in kind. But I want 
to meet him and thank him for his action, anyway.” 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


215 


There was the scraping of the tall pole-ladder against 
the face of the rock, and a moment later the man^s 
head and shoulders appeared over the rim of the 
ledge. The two grasped his hands and helped him up. 

His face was youthful. Ted and Stanley knew 
they had seen it somewhere. And his body, while 
inclined to [be slender, was of strong, athletic build. 
His only article of clothing was a short tunic of a dark 
color, so tattered that it hung from him in strips and 
fringes of thread. 

^^You killed the demon,^’ he said in a voice touched 
with sadness. ‘^Why did you do it?^’ 

‘^To save you, of course. Your weapon was broken. 
You had only a sword left. And, anyway, you saved 
our lives, so we were but repaying an honorable debt,^’ 
Stanley said in surprise. 

was not afraid. I am not a coward.’’ 

^^No one could ever call you a coward after seeing 
what we saw. But it was only natural that we should 
see your danger and do what we could to help you out 
of it. A man armed with only a sword would have 
small chance against such a large, ferocious beast.” 

was not afraid to die. It would not have mat- 
tered, anjrway,” the man said sadly. 

^^Tell us,” Stanley urged, '^how did you happen to 
be in the crater at this time of the night, and alone?” 


216 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


prove to myself that, no matter what I may 
have been or may have done in the past, I am not a 
coward at heart.’^ 

*^No one called you a coward.’^ 

^^Yes, imploring your forgiveness for the contra- 
diction. You called me that very loathsome thing.’’ 

‘H?” in siuprise. ‘^When?” 

The man hesitated. His demeanor was so humble 
and he appeared so downcast that the two were sorry 
for him. 

will take it all back,” Stanley apologized, holding 
out his hand. ‘‘You are as courageous as any one I 
have ever seen.” 

“Do you not know me?” The man came a few 
steps nearer and turned his face full into the moon- 
light. “Look into my face. I am Quizquiz!” 

“Quizquiz!” both the Americans exclaimed in 
astonishment. 

“Yes.” 

“Impossible.” 

“Look closely! Now do you recognize me?” He 
came still nearer and quietly submitted to their scru- 
tiny. 

“As I live, it is Quizquiz, but it cannot be the one 
we knew.” Stanley could hardly beheve his eyes. 
“The Quizquiz who was king was treacherous, cruel. 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


217 


cowardly, and bloodthirsty; the person who stands 
before us has proved by his actions to-night that he 
does not know fear, at least, and such valor must have 
other noble qualities for companions/^ 

^^The same body, but not the same spirit, stands 
before you. Yesterday I was king, with all the evil 
traits you mentioned, and more too. To-day, I rank 
with the lowliest — I am nobody in the sight of men, 
but I have found my true self. That is worth all it 
cost.^^ 

‘^Tell us, how did you get into the crater? 

‘'When, at your command, the sun became dark- 
ened, I was seized with panic and fled, blinded by fear 
and terror. I knew not where I went. And when 
daylight came again I found myself in this frightful 
place. Fearing pursuit, I hid in the first crevice in 
the rocks — it would scarcely admit my body — and 
waited. Darkness came and with it great monsters 
emerged from their lairs in the caves. First one, then 
another, found my hiding-place, but the opening was 
too small to admit their massive heads. There they 
stood, screaming and roaring, and blowing their hot 
breath into my face until I fainted. When I came to, 
the demons had gone; soon they returned carr3dng in 
their mouths the bodies of the luckless soldiers they 
had slain in the valley. One stopped not ten paces 


218 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


from my place of concealment and, in full view, pro- 
ceeded to eat its victim; for minutes that seemed like 
ages I was compelled to lie quietly with the sound 
of tearing flesh and splintering bones in my ears. 
And then it came to me suddenly, like the hghtning 
flash in the sky. I was to blame for all this. It was 
my wrong-doings that had caused untold discontent 
and suffering in my kingdom. With vainglorious 
pride I had listened to the flatterers, had followed 
their suggestions, and had rewarded them lavishly at 
the expense of the wise, the just, and the good. It 
was too late to undo these wrongs or to right the in- 
justices of which I had been guilty; but I still had the 
opportunity to prove to myself that I could be a 
worthy son of Huayna Capac, then return and 
ask for a merited punishment. My spirit is now at* 
ease.^^ 

^Willac Umu was the cause of your downfall, was 
he not?’^ 

‘*He was my instructor and adviser so long back 
as I can remember.*^ 

'^Were you not governed entirely by his advice 

^^I blame only myself. As king, I was not com- 
pelled to hsten to any one. I alone am responsible for 
everything, and deserve the most merciless punish- 
ment.” 


THE MAN IN THE CRATER 


219 


'‘Of course you realize that you are no longer king. 
You are a fugitive from justice, while we are now mas- 
ters. The tables are turned. You prepared the most 
fiendish torture that could be devised for us; naturally 
you must expect us to treat you in the same manner.^’ 
"I am in your hands. Do as you see fit.’^ 

Quizquiz fumbled at his belt; then he fell upon his 
knees. 

"On bended knees I give to you the crimson fringe 
to which I have no further right. Take it, wear it, 
and may your God and mine protect you.^^ 

His head was bowed in deepest humiliation. In his 
extended hand he held the horla, the Inca’s badge of 
authority. 

Stanley took it almost reverently. 

"Quizquiz” — Stanley’s voice was tense with emo- 
tion — "we are not unmindful of the fact that to-night 
you were the means of saving our lives, and we are 
not ungrateful. But neither can we forget your pre- 
vious character. The welfare of a nation depends 
upon us. We cannot sacrifice it. You admitted your 
guilt; you deserve the severest punishment possible. 
Therefore, you will now consider yourself our prisoner. 
Do you consent to arrest, or shall we use violence?” 

"I give myself into your keeping freely, and I know 
that the worst you can do to me will not be half so 


220 


' IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


much as I deserve. Here are my hands — ^bind them 
— then my feet, too.” 

'‘No, we shall not bind you. We are not afraid of 
you, or that you will escape. Go to the far end of 
the ledge and sit down with your back toward the 
wall. Our guns will be trained upon you; one move, 
and you die, understand?” 

"Your words are very plain. I will do as you 
command,” and he took up his station in the spot 
indicated. 

Ted and Stanley, while never for an instant relax- 
ing their vigilance, discussed at length the amazing 
turn events had taken. The problem that confronted 
them was a perplexing one. Had they encountered 
the old Quizquiz they had known it would have been 
an easy matter to dispose of him. But the new Quiz- 
quiz was a different person, endowed with the very 
virtues the other had lacked. There was also this to 
consider: was he sincere? Would his goodness last, 
or was he but playing a game with the hope of regain- 
ing the throne, when his old character should again 
assert itself in all its viciousness? 

The problem, therefore, that they discussed far into 
the night, but for which they were unable to find the 
solution, was: "What shall we do with Quizquiz?” 


CHAPTER XIX 

THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN IS CLOSED 

HOPE the two dead tigers down there are not 
the only ones that remained in the crater. It would 
be a pity to exterminate such a wonderful species/’ 
Stanley said toward morning. They had watched 
throughout the long hours of the night without seeing 
more of the beasts. So long as the moon shone ob- 
servation had been comparatively easy, but when 
the bright disk dipped behind the crater walls the 
darkness was intense. They strained their eyes and 
ears but saw or heard nothing. 

“It does seem a pity to destroy all of them, but 
what else can we do ? If they are not killed they will 
eventually wipe out the people,” Ted returned. 

“Quizquiz!” Stanley called to the crouching form 
that had not stirred from its place on the ledge. “You 
spent last night in the crater. Were there many of 
the creatures you call demons, but which are in reality 
tigers? Did you see more than two?” 

“There were more than two. There were more 
than four. I saw five from my crevice in the rocks 

after I had regained my senses and looked out.” 

221 


222 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


“I wonder why we saw only two to-night?’’ 

saw a third and a fourth near the lake just before 
the moonlight faded; but the smell of the blood of 
their dead kindred kept them from coming nearer.” 

**What? You saw others to-night?” from Stanley 
severely. ^‘Why did you not tell us about it?” 

prisoner may not speak to his captors unless he 
is spoken to first,” Quizquiz replied meekly. 

“You are right. See that you keep your proper 
place at all times.” 

When dayhght was fairly advanced, Soncco and the 
soldiers appeared in the distance. They approached 
the spot cautiously until Stanley, from his lofty sta- 
tion, bade them halt. Soncco alone was commanded 
to advance to the foot of the precipice, but in deference 
to his age Stanley came down the ladder instead of 
asking the elderly man to climb up. Ted remained 
above to keep his eye on the captive, and also to 
watch for signs of life in the crater. He could not 
hear what was being said by the two below, but after 
half an hour Stanley rejoined him, while Soncco re- 
mained on the ground. 

“We have been discussing a number of things,” he 
said in answer to his companion’s inquiring looks. 
“I suggested some of them, Soncco thought of others, 
and still others just grew out of our conversation. 


THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN 223 


First, before anything is decided definitely, I want to 
lay the plans before you so you can express your 
opinion. Whatever we do concerns both of us. Your 
future, as well as mine, depends on the outcome of 
things.’’ 

^^AU right,” Ted returned, “but I should be per- 
fectly willing to intrust the whole matter to you; you 
have done pretty well, so far.” 

“Thanks! But I will let you help. Now, first, 
here is the crater. From all we can see of it it does 
not possess much value as an agricultural proposition. 
There are scores of queer animals in there that prob- 
ably do not exist anywhere else on the face of the earth. 
If we let the people go in there the animals will be 
exterminated in short order. We do not want that. 
They are a last remnant of a prehistoric age, just as 
the people in the valley are the last pitiful reminder 
of a once powerful nation, possessing a wonderful 
civilization. Both survived because they were iso- 
lated from the outer world — and would still be so but 
for us.” 

“How can we save them?” Ted asked. “I am in 
favor of it if it can be done.” 

“That great wall between Uti and the main valley 
was built to keep the tigers from destroying the people 
years ago,” Stanley said, pointing to the massive 


224 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


structure, the end of which had been undermined 
and destroyed by the explosion. ‘^If that was not 
too much work for them, it will not be too much to 
fill up this little gap.^’ 

“That^s a bully idea. We can watch up here while 
the men place the stones in position, and protect 
them if need be. Then life can go on in the crater 
just the same as if we had never found it.^^ 

Exactly. I am glad you are in favor of that, too. 
Now for the two dead tigers. We must take them out, 
of course, and carry them back home with us. I am 
glad we have them, and we have a clear conscience 
also. We did not destroy them wantonly. And we 
did not exterminate the species.’^ 

^^I should say we do want to take them home with 
us. They will be the biggest treasure we shall get.^’ 
“Then we must have them dragged out and skinned. 
The skins and skeletons will weigh a lot. Remember, 
the same weight in gold would be worth a fortune. 

“I would rather have the animals. Some museum 
will be glad to have them, and they will create no end 
of discussions. Now we ought to make a solemn 
pledge — never to tell any one of this place, or how 
to get to it. We shall have the proof that we were 
in some prehistoric spot, and that will have to be 
enough. 


THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN 225 

a go. Shake! Now that is settled. Soncco 
wants to have the coronation at once. I want him to 
hold off a while. We must have time to learn more of 
our respective jobs before undertaking the respon- 
sibility of them. How does that strike you?^^ 

^Wery sensible, I should say. Let^s call together 
all the amautas in the valley and ask them questions. 
They can tell us all we ought to know.^’ 

We’ll do that. Last of all is the proposition of 
having Quizquiz on our hands. But we can come to 
no decision about him just now. Time may make a 
difference in the attitude we should assume toward 
him. We must be perfectly fair and see that no in- 
justice is done any one.” 

^^That seems to answer the question for the time 
being. He is our prisoner and we can take our time 
in deciding what his fate shall be.” 

Stanley went back down the ladder and, after a 
short conversation with Soncco, the latter commanded 
the soldiers to advance. He then placed himself at 
the head of the column and led it through the passage 
into the crater. There, under his direction, they 
fastened thongs to the legs of the great animals, and 
after an infinite amount of tugging and panting suc- 
ceeded in dragging the heavy carcasses out into the 
valley. Then they built a fire in the far end of the 


226 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


gap, after which Ted and Quizqniz, the latter with a 
cloth covering his face, came down from the ledge, and 
while messengers returned to the city for laborers the 
two Americans examined their prizes, measured them, 
and made munerous notes upon their appearance. 
The monsters were terrible even in death. They 
were the size of a grizzly bear and of a uniformly 
tawny color. The head and shoulders were massive 
and showed that the brutes possessed unrivalled 
strength. A short but thick mane of coarse hair grew 
on the neck, although it was not so abundant as the 
mane of a lion. From each side of the mouth pro- 
truded a long, curved tooth, sharp and dagger-like. It 
was these terrible weapons, a foot long, coupled with 
the powerful claws, that made the tigers so formidable, 
and enabled them to kill without danger to themselves 
every denizen of the crater world excepting only the 
buffaloes, whose safety lay in concerted action. The 
tail was short and thick. 

One of the animals, the one that had fallen from 
the high ledge, had been so badly mauled that its 
skin was torn to shreds in numerous places. The 
other was in perfect condition; it had been struck by 
five of the twenty shots fired from the machine gun. 

Ted and Stanley lost no time in beginning the prepa- 
ration of their prizes, after having recorded the neces- 


THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN 227 


sary observations. At their request Soncco detailed 
a dozen soldiers to do the work under their direction. 
The natives were wide-eyed with wonder at sight of the 
strange creatures, and marvelled over the fact that 
the Americans had been able to slay them, for, accord- 
ing to their traditions, they were demons that had best 
be pacified with offerings of victims, and not attacked 
and vanquished. But so accustomed were they to the 
rigid discipline of army fife that they dared not ques- 
tion the orders that had been given them, and fell to 
work in a mechanical manner. 

While some worked at removing the skins, others 
began to scrape the bones. When the skins were finally 
free from the flesh they were stretched on frames of 
poles and raised to a vertical position. Soon a black 
speck appeared in the sky, then another, and another, 
until a score of vultures were circling overhead, draw- 
ing constantly nearer and moving their bare heads 
from side to side as they scanned the ground for the 
food they had sensed from a distance. 

At a word from Soncco the men stepped back a few 
yards and stood motionless. Then the repulsive birds 
swooped down and hovering in front of the hides pecked 
and tore at the particles of flesh that clung to them 
until they were clean, so that they could dry without 
spoiling. The skins themselves were not in the least 


228 


IN THE TIGER’S LAIR 


injured by the birds; only the superfluous tissue had 
been removed, and the men were saved the trouble 
of scraping and dressing them down. 

After that, the bones of both tigers were taken to 
an ant-hill and buried in the loose mound. In a few 
days they too would be perfectly clean, and could be 
taken out and packed for transportation. 

*Hf we had rifles we could make a complete collec- 
tion of all the species in the crater,” Ted exclaimed. 
“There is not another one like it in the world.” 

“The temptation to do that would be strong, so I 
am glad we have no rifles.” 

“Yes, it is best to let them stay where they are and 
to hve their hves as was intended rather than preserve 
them in a glass case.” 

By this time a detachment of the laborers arrived. 
This group had been recruited from the nearest village 
and brought camping equipment and supplies. Soncco 
immediately put them to work erecting tents for the 
Americans, and when this had been accomphshed the 
two retired for a much-needed rest. The aged amauta 
had urged them again to return to the city, but they 
steadfastly refused, saying that the safety of the pop- 
ulace was their first consideration. Their own com- 
fort could wait. How different was their conduct 
from that of the deposed Inca! Although they had 


THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN 229 


been raised to the highest ranks by popular accla- 
mation, their request that the people refrain from show- 
ing signs of homage were wonderingly respected; and 
their orders were instantly obeyed. That was suffi- 
cient for the present. It would inspire that con- 
fidence and admiration that would be the greatest 
asset in the long run. 

Quizquiz, unrecognized, shared their quarters with 
them. No one dared question them upon any matter 
whatever, so their secret was safe. 

It was not imtil the following morning that the 
laborers arrived in numbers. A roaring fire had been 
kept burning in the passage throughout the night, and 
there had been no attempt on the part of the tigers 
to force this barrier. That more of the ferocious 
creatures did exist in the crater, however, was proven 
by the occasional roar that issued from the dark 
regions beyond the fire. 

Being, unacquainted with the working methods of 
the Indians, Stanley turned the proposition of build- 
ing the wall over to Soncco, who in turn immediately 
placed one of the chief masons in complete charge of 
the undertaking. The latter proceeded in a most 
businesslike manner. He divided his workmen into 
squads and assigned to each its respective duty. 

There being need of great haste, the master mason 


230 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


had decided to erect a temporary obstruction first. 
Some of the workers brought baskets of earth and 
pebbles from the river-bank, carrying their burdens on 
their shoulders, and dumped them into the opening. 
Others picked out the smaller fragments of stone from 
the d4bris of the tiunbled-down section of the great 
wall, and of the avalanche that had slid down the 
mountainside, and threw them into the breach. It 
was surprising to see how rapidly the heap of material 
grew in height as the unbroken line of toilers filed past 
and deposited the contents of their baskets. 

Nor did they pause in their labors for food or drink. 
At frequent intervals they crammed handfuls of coca- 
leaves into their mouths, which they chewed or held 
in their cheeks so that they bulged out hke a gopher^s. 
The effect of the drug derived from the dried leaves 
was to deaden all feelings of thirst, hunger, and fatigue. 
At night they ate a large quantity of thick porridge, 
made by boiling ground maize in water; after eating, 
each man took off his poncho, or cape, wrapped it tight- 
ly about himself, and lay down on the bare ground 
to sleep. 

By the end of the second day the ridge of earth and 
pebbles had reached a height of fifteen yards, and 
preparations were made to begin work on the wall 
proper on the following morning. The skilled masons 


THE BREACH IN THE MOUNTAIN 231 


had been engaged during this time in hewing the 
blocks of stone intended for the permanent structure. 
They used mallets of stone and chisels of tempered 
copper. 

The stones for the first layer, or foundation, were of 
large size and very heavy. They were rolled and 
pried into place by a swarm of workmen who used 
long, stout poles as levers. This accomplished, the 
horde again took up its baskets and brought pebbles 
and earth as heretofore. But this time the material 
was thrown on the ground in front of the wall-base 
and tamped into place, forming an inclined plane, the 
higher end of which was level with the top of the row 
of stones already in place. Other blocks of granite 
were now pried and rolled on the first tier; then the 
sloping plane was immediately filled in to reach the 
top of this layer. 

Thus the work continued for thirty days. And 
when the wall had reached the height of fifty feet it 
was considered finished. The tigers were again shut 
off from the valley, isolated in their own little world, 
to live their lives free from the destructive influences 
of man, and the inhabitants of the Inca’s domain were 
safe from the attacks of the ferocious creatures. Ted 
and Stanley felt sure that the Indians would never 
reopen the passage; they held the great beasts in super- 


232 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


stitious awe and were afraid of them, and were only 
too glad to keep them prisoner where they belonged. 

The workers now removed the material forming 
the inclined plane, leaving the wall straight and true, 
rising from the foot of the escarpment, with each 
stone exposed to view. As this task was one not re- 
quiring their supervision, and would take a long time, 
for the earth and pebbles were scooped into baskets 
and returned to the places from which they had 
been taken, the two Americans did not stay to see its 
completion. 

They had spent the days in serious discussions with 
Soncco, and others of the amautas were sent for at 
times. The pohcy of the new government was con- 
sidered minutely; reforms were considered; and, after 
numerous secret sessions to which Ted and Stanley 
admitted only Soncco, the fate of Quizquiz was defi- 
nitely decided. Their power and authority was su- 
preme; they would use them as they saw fit, and the 
example they had determined to set was one the peo- 
ple would never forget. 


CHAPTER XX 
THE KING IS CROWNED 

The way back to the city was short, and Ted and 
Stanley, accompanied only by Spncco and the dis- 
guised Quizquiz timed their march so as to arrive 
after nightfall. They did not want to be observed 
by the populace. The white-haired amautas, who 
were on the lookout, took them directly to the royal 
palace — the one that had been occupied by the late 
Huayna Capac, and more recently by Quizquiz. 

‘‘In the olden days each ruler had his own resi- 
dence,’^ Soncco apologized. “When an Inca died his 
palace was closed forever and a new one built for his 
successor. But there is so httle room in the valley 
that the same edifice is used by all the rulers. But 
the old furnishings are always destroyed and new ones 
provided.” 

“That is perfectly all right so far as we are con- 
cerned. We shall retire at once. Come back early in 
the morning; there are a million things to do,” Stanley 
replied. Then to Ted, after the amauta had gone: 

“We shall have our hands full for quite a while. Their 
233 


234 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


whole system of government will have to be studied, 
but we must make as few changes as possible/^ 

At daybreak the two were awakened by the chatter 
and whistling of troupials in the garden. Further sleep 
was impossible, so they went out into the crisp air to 
view their surroundings and to witness the birth of 
the new day. 

What gorgeous birds I” Ted exclaimed when he dis- 
covered the source of the early serenade. 'Ht^s a 
pity their voices are not so beautiful as their feathers.^’ 
A number of troupials, or orioles, of a black-and-yel- 
low color were confined in cages suspended from the 
lower branches of the trees. They were of a fearless 
and happy disposition and pecked at the fingers of 
the men when they thrust them between the golden 
wires of the little prisons. 

The two wandered between the trees and flowers 
for some time. Among the growing, blossoming plants 
were clumps of artificial ones wrought in gold and 
silver. They admired and marvelled at the extrava- 
gant beauty of the garden; and to think that it was 
all theirs ! 

The murmur of water came to their ears, and fol- 
lowing the sound they came upon a basin hewn in the 
solid stone and lined with silver. It was the Inca^s 
bath. Streams of water flowing from silver tubes 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


235 


poured into the pool on two sides. Vines covered 
with brilliant flowers formed a canopy over it. 

‘^Just what I have been looking for/’ Stanley ex- 
claimed gleefully. ^‘1 have not had a bath in ages.” 

'^Huayna Capac would turn in his grave if he saw 
us profane the sacred bath of the Incas.” 

Let him turn. I am certainly going in for a swim.” 

'Hf you can, I will too.” 

They splashed about for a while and had hardly 
finished dressing again when Soncco appeared and 
greeted them with a low bow. 

am at the service of the king,” he said humbly. 

'^Remember,” Stanley rebuked him, “I do not 
want to be addressed that way. And stop the bowing 
r— at least for a while. What news?” 

'^Villac Umu has been captured.” 

*^Good work! Now we have both the trouble- 
makers.” 

“What is your pleasure regarding him?” 

“Keep him prisoner — closely guarded. Feed him 
all he can eat and do not mistreat him in any way. 
He shall have a fair trial.” 

“Why not have him brought here so we can 
keep him under observation and size him up?” Ted 
asked. 

“I have no objection. Bring him to the palace. 


236 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


And now about the meeting: have all the nobles here 
to-morrow morning an hour after sunrise. Above all 
things, do not let out the secret that Quizquiz is here. 
That must remain absolutely unknown.’^ 

Soncco, forgetting himself, bowed and departed. 
The two returned to their apartments and spent the 
day examining the wonders of the palace and in ques- 
tioning Quizquiz. 

The next day the council chamber was packed with 
the nobles who had been gathered together by Soncco. 
They formed a silent and expectant mass. It was 
their first official visit to the new sovereign they had 
chosen during the moment of darkness and terror 
when the eclipse had wiped out the fight of the sun. 
Ted and Stanley felt the importance of the occasion. 
Their future might depend upon the way they handled 
the situation. They must impress the assembly fa- 
vorably and more firmly establish their power over it. 
For these reasons they consented to use the thrones 
that stood at one end of the room, but were concealed 
from the assembly by heavy curtains. 

Attendants drew aside the draperies slowly, and as 
the two Americans were revealed the nobles bowed 
low their heads in homage and reverence, nor did they 
raise them until Stanley spoke. 

Quizquiz is no longer king by reason of his deser- 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


237 


tion of his throne and because you, the nobility of the 
nation, have declared his reign at an end,’’ he said 
without rising. ^^By popular acclamation I have been 
chosen his successor.” 

Not a sound interrupted the speech. All ears were 
strained so as not to lose a single word. 

^^My first and only desire in accepting the lofty 
office is to serve the people. This sounds strange to 
you. But the welfare and happiness of the nation 
must be brought about, and I shall work toward that 
end. In order to accomplish this it is only just and 
proper that the people should have a voice in their 
government through chosen representatives from the 
various districts. Theirs shall be the duty to meet 
and discuss the needs of the populace, and to advise 
the king of them, and to act with^him in council. 
Therefore, the first step under the new regime is to 
secure these representatives.” 

Soncco, who had been in the front of the gathering, 
now came forward and stood on the left side of the 
golden chairs on which Ted and Stanley were seated; 
after bowing to the two he turned and faced the audi- 
ence. It was necessary for him to assume this posi- 
tion in addressing the gathering, for it was unlawful 
for any one to turn his back upon the ruler. 

^Ht has been decreed by our most wise sovereign,” 


238 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


he began in a solemn voice, ^Hhat two representatives 
shall be chosen from each of the twelve districts — one 
to be a noble and the other from among the common 
people, and in the following manner. On the day of 
the election all the men must gather in the respective 
capitals of the various districts to make their choice. 
The ofl5ce is open to any man above thirty years of 
age. Those who seek election must present themselves 
in the public square and stand facing the sun, twenty 
paces apart; they may not ask support of any one, but 
each may briefly state his policy so that every one may 
hear. One hour after sunrise each voter will fall in 
line in back of the candidate of his choosing. The 
groups will then be counted by the resident chief of 
the district, and the man having the greatest number 
of supporters will be declared elected for a term of 
two years. If any candidate solicits a vote, or if any 
voter sells his ballot, he will be guilty of a crime; the 
penalty for either offense shall be disqualification to 
ever vote again or to ever hold office. Furthermore, 
the offender shall work for a period of one hundred 
days in the public fields, clothed in a distinctive black 
mantle of disgrace. If there be any one who would 
ask questions, let him speak!” 

An avalanche of queries were hurled at the speaker 
and for a moment he was nonplussed. 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


239 


'^One at a time/’ Stanley ordered, and then the 
commotion subsided. 

Soncco was kept busy explaining the matter for 
over two hours, but finally they understood. It was 
all so different, so unheard of, that at first they could 
not comprehend the situation. 

Before dismissing the assembly Stanley ordered 
them all to return to their homes without delay and 
in a series of mass-meetings explain the tidings to the 
inhabitants of the valley. At the end of twenty days 
the elections were to be held, and at the end of thirty 
days the representatives were to report to the Cori- 
cancha for the coronation of their ruler and for the 
inauguration into their new offices. 

'^We cannot do everything,” Stanley said to Ted 
when they were alone after the meeting. Changes 
in government come slowly, and if they are too radical 
and too complicated they cause only confusion. All 
we can do here is to point out the right road; then let 
them find their own way. In the long run it is they, 
not we, who must work out their salvation.” 

‘^Even at that it will be one of the biggest steps for- 
ward they have made in ages. I believe we are accom- 
plishing something well worth while. To have a 
whole nation in one’s absolute power, and to set it 
on its feet, is a thing the greatest statesmen in the 


240 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


world are trying to do at this very minute, and with- 
out glaring success either/' 

The ensuing thirty days were busy ones for Ted 
and Stanley. Each morning they received the amautas 
and spent several hours in conversation with them. 
After that they strolled in the garden with its mar- 
vellous flowers, gorgeous birds, and sparkling foum 
tains. The afternoons were spent closeted with Quiz- 
quiz, whose presence they had succeeded in keeping 
secret save only for Soncco and a few trusted guards. 
They received reports daily from the caciques, or 
chiefs, of the various districts who were conducting 
the search for the supposed fugitive, and these reports, 
of course, always admitted failure to capture the 
elusive Quizquiz. 

Villac Umu remained surly and unapproachable. 
The Americans tried in every way to penetrate into 
his real character, and to learn if there was not a single 
good trait in his make-up, but his case proved hope- 
less. He repelled all their advances with sneers and 
threats, and convinced the two that any attempt to 
reason with him was worse than futile. So, after de- 
ciding definitely the future of Quizquiz, they also 
passed upon the fate of the high priest. 

The month passed all too soon. By the end of the 
twenty-second day the representatives from the nearer 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


241 


districts began to arrive. Those from the more re- 
mote cities did not reach the City of Gold until the 
day before the ceremonies. Each one was accom- 
panied by the chief from the district that had sent 
him, and the latter was compelled to vouch for his 
identity and to certify to his proper election. Those 
of noble birth as well as the commoners were given 
quarters in one of the large buildings adjoining the 
Inca^s own residence. 

Besides the delegates, hundreds of nobles and a host 
of the populace swarmed to the capital for the great 
event, and these were taken care of either in the 
numerous barracks or in the private houses of the 
city. No one was left without suitable accommoda- 
tions and food, as befitted his rank. 

Long before sunrise of the appointed day the crowds 
began to make their way to the great plaza, where 
they took up their stations, silently and expectantly. 
The space had been divided into three sections, the 
limits of each of which was defined by a line of soldiers. 
In the first part, immediately in front of the palace, 
was a raised dais on which the coronation was to take 
place; it was covered with a fringed canopy of snowy 
cloth, and an enclosed passage led from it into the 
royal residence. On each side was a lower platform 
for the newly elected delegates of the people. 

The second section was reserved for the nobles. 


242 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


And in the third as many of the populace crowded 
as the space would hold. 

The Americans had planned to make the ceremony 
as unpretentious as possible. All the pomp and 
splendor that had previously attended the crowning of 
a sovereign should be lacking. Only those things were 
retained that were absolutely required by the ancient 
code of laws to make the act legal and binding in the 
eyes of the nation. The importance of the occasion 
should impress itself indehbly upon the minds of the 
assembly by its seriousness and simplicity. 

The sun was high in the heavens when all was in 
readiness. A single herald stepped from behind the 
curtains that hid the stage from view and, raising a 
silver bugle, blew a loud blast. Instantly all conver- 
sation was hushed, and a breathless silence fell upon 
the throng. A second blast, but not so loud as the 
first, rang out upon the still, morning air. And then 
a third, so low and plaintive that it was scarcely audi- 
ble, and seemed to die with a sob. Then the trum- 
peter withdrew. 

One hundred youths, dressed in simple blue tunics, 
with bare arms and legs, now filed out of the palace 
with slow, measured steps. On their shoulders they 
carried a massive golden chain, each link of which was 
four inches long. They formed a semicircle in front 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


243 


of the soldiers between the first and second sections — 
a kind of barrier between the king and the people. 

When they had taken their places six trumpeters 
appeared on the stage and sounded the three blasts, 
as before, in unison. Then the curtains were slowly 
drawn aside revealing the massive throne of wrought 
gold that had been removed from the palace; beside it 
stood Ted, dressed in the robes of Villac Umu, and in 
front of him knelt an attendant holding a white cushion, 
upon which rested the horlay or crimson fringe, that 
had been given to them by Quizquiz on the ledge the 
night he had saved them from the tiger, and which 
was the diadem of the kingly office. 

Once more the bugles sounded, but this time it was 
the royal fanfare of twelve loud blasts; it announced 
the coming of the one to be crowned king. At last 
the great moment had arrived. The assembled thou- 
sands uncovered their heads and reverently awaited 
the appearance of their white ruler. 

A single figure walked out upon the stage, clad in a 
simple white tunic and scarlet sandals. Not a jewel, 
not an ornament of gold, adorned the newcomer, and 
this fact alone was unexpected and startling to the 
multitude. But the thing that caused them to gasp 
in even greater astonishment was that the lone figure 
was not Stanley — but Quizquiz. They were speech- 


244 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


less with amazement. Where a thunderous roar should 
have greeted the appearance of the sovereign, there 
was the silence of death. 

Quizquiz, pale but unafraid, stood in the centre of 
the dais and faced the people. He said nothing, but in 
his eyes there shone a new light that bespoke courage, 
firmness of purpose, and at the same time repentance. 
After standing quietly for a few minutes he spoke in 
a clear, steady voice: 

‘^The past cannot be recalled. You know what my 
conduct was. I have no excuses to make. I was a 
fool. Judge me as you will, do with me as you will. 
I am ready to abide by your decision.’’ 

The surprise had been so overwhelming that for a 
short time no one was able to utter a word. They 
simply stared, imable to beheve their eyes. But 
finally Huascar, he who had been condemned to be 
boiled in oil, assumed the role of spokesman: 

^Ht is Quizquiz,” he cried hoarsely, ^Vho wanted to 
kill us. Where is the white man who saved all of us 
and who was chosen to be king? Has this evil one 
done away with our benefactor, who came from the 
sky and whose commands even the sun obeys? Is he 
usurping the power given to another and which he so 
shamefully gave up?” 

^‘The white king!” other voices took up the cry. 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


245 


want the white king who saved us from the dark- 
ness and the demons, and 

At this juncture Stanley, who had been waiting on 
the rear of the stage, thought it best to show himseK. 
His appearance was the signal for a demonstration of 
welcome that soimded like the rumble of thunder. 

^^Hail! Hail the king!’’ and “Let him be crowned 
at once!” the multitude shouted until Stanley raised 
his hand to command silence. 

“I am not unappreciative of this, the greatest of all 
honors, which you offer me,” he said with feeling, 
“and I thank you. My companion and I did not 
come here to rule you.” 

“You saved the nation from destruction,” Huascar 
shouted. “Do not desert us now.” 

“Our work is finished. Therefore we shall return 
again to our own people.” 

“And leave us to the mercy of Quizquiz the Tyrant? 
Never!” 

“Wait! Quizquiz is the son of Huayna Capac, 
whom you all loved and venerated for his many noble 
qualities. Does it seem possible that the son of the 
Inca so justly beloved for his kindness, justice, and 
understanding should have inherited none of his 
father’s greatness?” 

“He has never shown it. He was cruel and unjust 


246 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


and selfish. He treated us like vermin, and tried to 
exterminate us.’’ 

one knows that better than I, unless it is Quiz- 
quiz himself. But hsten, and when you have heard 
my words you will' imderstand; and, understanding, 
you will agree that what we would do is for the best.” 

Stanley then related how they had foimd Quizquiz 
in the crater, alone, and with only a fragile bow and 
arrows, surrounded by strange and terrible beasts, and 
of the courage he displayed in facing them; how he 
had saved their fives when the tiger was about to 
spring upon them, and how he had climbed to the 
ledge and voluntarily surrendered his crown after 
acknowledging the wrongs of his past fife. Finally, 
he told of the months dming which they had kept him 
under constant observation, and of the decision they 
had reached regarding his future. 

“Furthermore,” he concluded, “we have surroimded 
you with safeguards for the future. The code of laws 
has been revised, and the death-penalty abolished, so 
your fives are safe. Every person accused of a crime 
or offense will be considered innocent until proven 
guilty in a fair trial, by the regularly constituted court. 
The king may suggest new laws, or changes iii the ex- 
isting ones, but unless two-thirds of the representa- 
tives, chosen by the people, agree with him they shall 
not be effective. But to all government there must 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


247 


be a head. Quizquiz is your king by law and heritage. 
Respect him as such and he will rule wisely and well 
in return for your devotion. We are sure of this or 
we should not ask you to take him back.^’ 

Truly, the white man^s words are those of a god, 
and not of a mortal Huascar exclaimed. ^‘The 
things he says must be true, for have we not had proof 
of his powers? To keep him here against his wishes 
would be poor gratitude for his goodness — and, any- 
way, he would find a way to leave us if he so desired. 
A great hght is dawning upon me. Instead of taking 
advantage of our helplessness, the men from the outer 
world have made over our king and are giving him 
back to us. They could have power and riches, but 
their unselfishness causes them to reject the tempta- 
tion. Let us kneel in gratitude and bless them.^’ 

The words of Huascar had a magical effect, which 
only proves how easily mobs are swayed provided there 
is a strong leader among them. As one man the mass 
of people obeyed, and as they knelt Stanley spoke to 
them for the last time: 

‘^Receive your king with the acclamation that is 
due him,’^ he said. 

Then Quizquiz advanced and extended his hands 
toward his people. The roar that greeted him left no 
doubt in the minds of the Americans of the success of 
their plan. So Ted came forward and placed the 


248 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


crimson fringe on Quizquiz’s head; then he stepped 
back three paces, saluted the new king smartly, and 
followed Stanley into the passage. 

Quizquiz descended the steps and taking a sword 
cut a cord that joined two links in the golden chain, 
whereupon the youths carr5dng it stepped aside, 
leaving an opening in the centre. The Inca then in- 
vited the twenty-four representatives of the people to 
follow him up the dais and take their places by his 
side. After that he delivered a short address, laud- 
ing the Americans for their work and thanking them, 
and assuring his subjects that henceforth his life would 
be devoted to their weKare. 

The crowd was delirious with joy. It was one of the 
happiest days in the lives of the populace, for, despite 
their denunciation of Quizquiz in the hour of panic, 
old behefs die hard, and most of them still felt deep in 
their hearts the old reverence for the Child of the Sim, 
and were glad to have him back. And they celebrated 
the festival for a period of ten days. They also re- 
joiced over the fact that Villac Umu, the real cause of 
all the trouble, had been banished to the high slopes, 
to be a herder of llamas. 

Quizquiz had arranged an impressive demonstra- 
tion to commemorate the departure of the Americans. 
By his command every inhabitant of the valley capa- 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


249 


ble of making the trip had journeyed to the foot 
of the range that formed the western enclosure of the 
hidden retreat. There was to be a gala celebration, 
after which the strangers would depart through the 
secret pass that opened up once every ten years. 

During the first day there were music, dancing, and 
feasting. On the second all the nobles came to bid 
the two farewell, and to offer their well-wishes for a 
safe and speedy return to their homes. On the morn- 
ing of the third day a surprising thing occurred. 
Soncco, who was master of ceremonies, had arranged 
a startling spectacle. At his command a nmnber of 
menials removed the covering from what had ap- 
peared to be a great heap of wood or stones. To 
their surprise they saw that it was a great mound 
of gold. 

“Assembled here is all the treasure in the valley,'^ 
Soncco said solemnly. “Gold has been the curse of 
the nation, but we are determined to be cursed with 
it no longer. So much of the gold and precious stones 
as one hundred men can carry on their backs will be 
sent with our white friends to the outer world, as a 
token of the Inca’s appreciation of their unselfish ser- 
vice to him and to the people. The remainder will 
be destroyed.” 

To the astonishment of Ted and Stanley a long 
line of men began filing past the glistening heap. 


250 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


Each one picked up as much of the treasure as he could 
carry, and started up the slope to the rim of one of 
the numerous craters; there the precious burdens were 
dropped into the volcano. 

Not until dusk did the homeward journey commence. 
The people had been sent away to their own homes. 
Only Quizquiz and his attendants, Soncco, and the 
hundred soldiers with their officers remained with the 
Americans. After embracing the two the Inca gave 
the officers their final orders. Then he turned to Ted 
and Stanley. 

'^As I have told you before, the journey to the coast 
is not a long one — ten days at most. You will be 
among my people all of the time, for the trail runs 
through a region into which white men never venture. 
Food will be supphed by the villages through which 
you pass. On the shore of the great water stands the 
town of Tula. There you may safely store your 
treasure until such time as you care to remove it; the 
inhabitants are my faithful subjects, and my orders 
to serve you in every way will not be disobeyed. 
Good-by.^^ 

Soncco accompanied the two to the very end of the 
narrow passage between the seething volcanoes. 

‘‘Before you go,^^ he said with a merry gleam in his 
bright eyes, “I want to tell you something. That 


THE KING IS CROWNED 


251 


eclipse of the sun came at a very opportune moment 
for all of us.^^ 

What both Ted and Stanley exclaimed in chagrin. 
'^You knew about it?’’ 

^'Of course, and so did all the other amautas, for do 
we not know everything? Eclipses have occurred 
before, and we have records of them, but the Inca and 
the people are not told about such things. If we told 
them everything we know we should lose our standing 
among them.” 

''Then why did you help us and seem so reluctant 
about doing it?” Ted asked. 

"Because, from my knowledge of you, gained dur- 
ing your previous visit here, and also this one, I felt 
that you could be trusted. But I wanted to test you 
in every way so as to be sure. You acted just as I 
expected you would. Quizquiz was getting intoler- 
able, and something had to be done. You offered the 
solution.” 

"And now, Soncco,” Stanley said smiling, "let me 
tell you something. You made a great show of de- 
stroying all that treasure. We should have believed 
that you did actually have it thrown into a seething 
volcano were it not for the fact that early this morn- 
ing we saw a number of soldiers go up the slope and 
disappear into the very place they later carried the 


252 


IN THE TIGER^S LAIR 


gold to. The carriers simply handed it over the rim, 
carefully, to those others waiting to receive it. To- 
morrow, no doubt, they will bring it out again.^’ 

Soncco appeared confused and panic-stricken. 

*^Do not fear,’^ Stanley hastened to assure him. 
‘‘You said you trusted us. Continue to do so. Your 
secret is safe with us. We shall never return under 
any circumstances, and we shall never tell any one 
else, either. I swear it ! 

“And I,’^ added Ted. 

“Good-by. And may the greatest blessings of life 
be yours. I shall always remember you with gratitude, 
and the story of your visit will be handed down from 
generation to generation by the amautas as part of 
the history of the nation.’’ 

One of the officers gave a sharp command and the 
column of men, each carrying a pack containing one 
hundred pounds of gold and gems on his back, started 
forward. Ted and Stanley followed. 

An hour later they were descending a green slope, 
their first glimpse of the outer world in many months. 
They were happy, for they were on the way home. 





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